Chapter 12, Lesson 2: Conflicts Over Land

Study Notes

The Seminole primarily resided in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida.
The "Five Civilized Tribes" included the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw.
These tribes were considered "civilized" due to their successful farming communities, which resembled those of other American settlers.
White settlers sought relocation of Native Americans to acquire their land.
Andrew Jackson openly supported the removal of Native Americans to satisfy the demands of white settlers.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native Americans in the Southeast to relocate to present-day Oklahoma, selling their lands and moving to the Everglades.
The Cherokee were recognized as a separate nation, yet still faced removal, notably influenced by Chief Justice John Marshall.
Jackson disregarded the Supreme Court's Worcester v. Georgia decision, backing Georgia's efforts to remove the Cherokee.

The relocation of Native Americans was a hardship as they were unprepared and forced from their ancestral lands.
Approximately 1,500 Cherokee were relocated, while around 4,000 died during the process.
Many deaths during the relocation resulted from hunger and exposure to harsh weather conditions.
The journey became known as the "Trail of Tears" as about one-quarter of the Cherokee population perished during the trek, representing their sorrow over the forced removal.

The Seminole chose to fight to resist the loss of their lands and refused to leave.
In the Seminole Wars, they utilized guerrilla tactics, launching surprise attacks against U.S. troops under Major Francis Dade and retreating into nearby forests and swamps.

The conflict of the Seminole Wars incurred over $20 million in costs and led to the deaths of more than 1,500 soldiers, alongside numerous Seminole casualties and captures.
A small group of Seminole evaded removal by seeking refuge in the Everglades.

The Five Civilized Tribes relinquished over 100 million acres in exchange for $68 million and 32 million acres west of the Mississippi River.
Upon relocating to the eastern half of Indian Territory, these tribes encountered issues with land already claimed by various Plains tribes.
The U.S. Army and Choctaw police promised to protect the tribes and maintain order in the territory.