The Cherokee and the Trail of Tears

In the northwest corner of Georgia is the site of the last capital of the Cherokee nation before being forcibly removed to eastern Oklahoma.

It was a pretty cold day to visit this reconstructed village.

This home was outfitted to look like it was from the time period. They even had period snacks.

That basket under Sy's hands: those are chestnuts roasting on an open fire! They were pretty yummy.

Ky grinding corn by hand while a cold park ranger tells us all about life in New Echota.

The Cherokee were trying really hard to be accepted by westerners. They dressed in typical western-style clothes. (Think U.S. citizen, not John Wayne!) they also had a constitution modeled after the US Constitution and a Supreme Court and legislature. (Legislative meeting house picture below)

Chief Vann, who's home we visited next, owned this tavern. (Think small hotel with convenience store and restaurant for travelers, not place to drink alcohol.)

This print shop published a weekly bilingual newspaper with articles in Cherokee and English. (Pretty advanced for the 1820s!)

The Cherokee alphabet was actually a "syllabary" because each symbol stands for a syllable. In order to publish the newspaper, they had to get type created for the printing press using their syllabary.

Regardless of the accomplishments and how much effort the Cherokee nation put into looking like a civilized society, they were still pushed west because they were "savages" and this land "needed" to be settled by whites.

When they fought back, the Supreme Court actually ruled on their side. But the president refused to enforce the ruling which said they could stay.

The state of Georgia held a land lottery and gave away all that was left of the Cherokee land. Many lottery winners arrived at their new property to find a well-built inhabited home with a functioning well and land cleared for gardening, etc.

The nicest home (pictured below) belonged to Chief Vann. This home was more like a plantation, with slave quarters, etc. but because the owner was half Cherokee and chief of the tribe, he had to leave when the Cherokees were moved. Also, the white Moravian missionaries next-door to this property were forced to leave because their land had been given away in the lottery.

We learned so much today. We are loving roadschooling and experiencing each state and the rich history it has to offer!