Sequence of Events – Trail of Tears

1814 -1828
1814-1824	Andrew Jackson is instrumental in negotiating nine out of eleven treaties, which divested the Five Civilized tribes of their eastern lands in exchange for lands in the west. As a result of the treaties, the United States gains control over three-quarters of Alabama and Florida, as well as parts of Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky and North Carolina. This is a period of voluntary Indian migration, however, and only a small number of Creeks, Cherokee and Choctaws actually move to the new lands.
1820s	Establishment of "Indian Territory" in present-day Oklahoma. This marks the beginning of the reservation system for Native Americans.
1827	In 1827 the Cherokee adopts a written constitution declaring themselves to be a sovereign nation.
1828
	Andrew Jackson elected as president of the United States. He promises in his campaign to "free land" for land-hungry setters in the southern frontier states. His appeal is directed primarily to settlers of Georgia --- a state in which the Cherokee Indians occupies 35,000 acres.
	The Georgia legislature passes a law annexing all Cherokee country within the state's borders. The state legislature also abolishes all Cherokee laws and customs and sent surveyors to map out land lots of 160 acres each. These lots were to be distributed to white citizens of Georgia through public lotteries
	Gold is discovered near Dahlonega, located in northern Georgia. This area is in the heart of the Cherokee territory.
1829
	President Jackson’s First Annual Message to Congress. He calls for Indian removal
	John Ross, the Cherokee’s leader, travels to Washington, D.C. to protest the Georgia legislature’s actions and plead for justice. He finds sympathizers in Congress, but most of these are anti-Jackson men. He meets with President Jackson to request help; Jackson states that the Cherokee’s must move west of the Mississippi to Indian territory.
1830
May	Indian Removal Act passed by United States Congress. President Jackson signs the bill four months later.
August	Cherokee Nation publishes a “Memorial of the Cherokee Nation" in the August issue of Nile’s Weekly Register. The statement challenges Jackson’s view of the necessity for removal of Indians.
December	Jackson’s Second Annual Message to Congress; defends removal
1831 - 1832
1831	Cherokee Nation vs. State of Georgia. Ruling by United States Supreme Court. The court rules that the Cherokee Nation is not a sovereign or foreign nation residing within the boundaries of the United States. This represents a set back for the Cherokee.
1832	Worchester vs. Georgia. Ruling by the United States Supreme Court. The court rules that the laws of Georgia can have no force" and that the federal government had an obligation to enforce its treaty obligations with the Cherokee nation. This represents support for the Cherokee.
1834 - 1835
1834	Chiefs of Cherokee nation appeal to the US Congress, offering a two-part compromise. (1) They would cede the state of Georgia a part of their territory as long as they would be protected from invasion. (2) They would be willing to become United States citizens at the end of a definite period of years to be fixed by the United States.
1834	Split among the Cherokee Nation. A small group, led by Major Ridge and Elias Boudinot [both Cherokee Indians who adopted American names], believed that further resistance to the demands of the Georgia and US government is futile. Thus, they argue that the Cherokee nation should willingly move to the designated Indian Territory. The larger group, led by John Ross, continue to refuse to leave their land.
1835	Treaty of New Echota: Treaty negotiated between Ridge and Boudinot and the US government. On December 29, with signatures of less that 2 percent of the entire Cherokee tribe, Ridge, Boudinot and their followers sign away all the lands of the Cherokee nation. Years later it is discovered that the US government paid bribes to the Ridge delegation. Ridge is paid $30,000.
1836	John Ross submits a letter to the United States Congress protesting the Treaty of New Echota.
1837	Major Ridge and 465 followers depart for the new land in the West. About 17,000 others remain.
1838
February	15,665 people of the Cherokee nation memorialize congress protesting the Treaty of New Echota
March	Outraged America citizens throughout the country protest to congress on behalf of the Cherokee. Included is a letter from Ralph Waldo Emerson to President Martin Van Buren.
April	Congress ignores protests of Cherokee removal. Federal troops ordered to Georgia to begin forced removal.
May	The US government sends Brigadier General Winfield Scoot and an army to Georgia to enforce compliance of the Treaty of New Echota. Thirteen stockaded forts are built and Cherokees are removed from their homes, taken to the forts and await transportation for Indian Territory. The region suffers one of the worst droughts in recorded history. Approximately 1500 Cherokees die while housed in the stockades.
June -July	Departures of several hundred Cherokees by a long water route --- north on the Tennessee River to the Ohio and then down the Mississippi and up the Arkansas to the western land. Contaminated food and water, along with drought conditions during the summer months, lead to many deaths, sometimes as many as five per day per boat.
August	In Aquohee stockade Cherokee chiefs meet in council, reaffirming the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. John Ross appointed superintendent of the removal process.
September	Drought breaks. Cherokee prepare to embark to western territory. Ross negotiates additional funds for food and clothing.
October - November	Over 13,000 Cherokees began the overland journey to the west on an overland trail. They cross Tennessee, Kentucky and Illinois. First groups reach the Mississippi river in November, where crossing is delayed by ice on the river.
December	John Ross leaves Georgia with last group, carrying the records and laws of the Cherokee Nation. 5,000 Cherokees trapped east of the Mississippi by harsh winter, causing many deaths.
1839
January	First overland groups arrive at Fort Gibson.
March	The last of the Cherokees reached their new home. The survivors estimate that 4,000 or one out of every four members of the tribe had died. From that day forward, the Cherokee nation remembers their migration from their homeland to the government’s designed “Indian Territory” as “the trail where they cried,” or the Trail of Tears.
April	Cherokee build houses, clear land, plant and rebuild their nation
June	John Ridge and Elias Boudinot, key Cherokee that negotiated the Treaty of New Echota, are assassinated.
September	Cherokee Constitution adopted. Tahlequah established as capital of the Cherokee Nation.