The Trial of Tears
Cherokee “Spoilatia” claim against U.S. Government
24 March 1842
24 March 1842
This document, dated 24 March 1842, is a claim for $125.25 against the U.S. Government by Samuel Hatchett, a native Cherokee of the Cherokee Nation East. Hatchett’s claim for $125.25 was written after Winfield Scott, a United States Army General, and his troops confiscated his property during the "Trail of Tears". Hatchett claims for several of his possessions including “1 axe”, “1 iron pan”, and “8 head of hogs”, amongst other items.
This claim against the U.S. Government in 1842 came after many years of complicated political decisions, new treaties, doctrines and Congressional acts concerning the relationship between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous Peoples in North America. During the late 1700s and early 1800s the newly formed nation of the United States worked to preserve a healthy relationship with the Indigenous Peoples and sought to treat them with mutual respect. This relationship began to break down due to the pressure of immigrants arriving in the southeastern states and wanting to settle on, and claim, Indigenous land. The growing resentment towards Indigenous Peoples worked to increase the amount of litigation and policy in Indigenous affairs and the cries for the removal of the Indigenous Peoples grew ever louder. The discovery of gold in Georgia in 1828 fueled the removal movement even further and the Indian Removal Act was authorized by President Andrew Jackson in 1830 after a bitter debate in Congress.
The Indian Removal Act gave President Andrew Jackson the power to initiate land exchanges with Indigenous communities from the Southern United States. When the Cherokee in Georgia refused to comply with the exchanges they were forced off their land. General Winfield Scott arrived in Georgia in May 1838 with 7,000 men who proceeded to round up 13,000 Cherokee and detain them in concentration camps. Those who survived the camps were then forced to march west, a march which is commonly referred to as the "Trail of Tears".
With their homes looted and burnt down the Cherokee began marching from Georgia to Oklahoma on foot with meagre supplies and insufficient clothing. Struggling groups were often charged to cross privately owned land and faced further hardships as winter arrived. The Cherokee started to die from disease, cold and accident while their loved ones were forced to march forward. Nearly 4,000 Cherokees died on the “Trail of Tears”. The relocation for the Cherokee and numerous other tribes had tremendous consequences. The Cherokee not only endured the physical and emotional hardship of marching west but on arrival had to adapt to a new environment and a completely new way of living.
Fighting, bitterness and political battles continued for many years after the "Trail of Tears" and this document is an insight into the troublesome relationship between the U.S. Government and Indigenous communities. The trek known as, "Nunahi-duna-dlo-hilu-i", the Trail Where They Cried, is one of the most significant events in Cherokee history and one that is remembered and commemorated today. Today the Cherokees are the largest Indigenous group in the United States.
This claim against the U.S. Government in 1842 came after many years of complicated political decisions, new treaties, doctrines and Congressional acts concerning the relationship between Indigenous communities and non-Indigenous Peoples in North America. During the late 1700s and early 1800s the newly formed nation of the United States worked to preserve a healthy relationship with the Indigenous Peoples and sought to treat them with mutual respect. This relationship began to break down due to the pressure of immigrants arriving in the southeastern states and wanting to settle on, and claim, Indigenous land. The growing resentment towards Indigenous Peoples worked to increase the amount of litigation and policy in Indigenous affairs and the cries for the removal of the Indigenous Peoples grew ever louder. The discovery of gold in Georgia in 1828 fueled the removal movement even further and the Indian Removal Act was authorized by President Andrew Jackson in 1830 after a bitter debate in Congress.
The Indian Removal Act gave President Andrew Jackson the power to initiate land exchanges with Indigenous communities from the Southern United States. When the Cherokee in Georgia refused to comply with the exchanges they were forced off their land. General Winfield Scott arrived in Georgia in May 1838 with 7,000 men who proceeded to round up 13,000 Cherokee and detain them in concentration camps. Those who survived the camps were then forced to march west, a march which is commonly referred to as the "Trail of Tears".
With their homes looted and burnt down the Cherokee began marching from Georgia to Oklahoma on foot with meagre supplies and insufficient clothing. Struggling groups were often charged to cross privately owned land and faced further hardships as winter arrived. The Cherokee started to die from disease, cold and accident while their loved ones were forced to march forward. Nearly 4,000 Cherokees died on the “Trail of Tears”. The relocation for the Cherokee and numerous other tribes had tremendous consequences. The Cherokee not only endured the physical and emotional hardship of marching west but on arrival had to adapt to a new environment and a completely new way of living.
Fighting, bitterness and political battles continued for many years after the "Trail of Tears" and this document is an insight into the troublesome relationship between the U.S. Government and Indigenous communities. The trek known as, "Nunahi-duna-dlo-hilu-i", the Trail Where They Cried, is one of the most significant events in Cherokee history and one that is remembered and commemorated today. Today the Cherokees are the largest Indigenous group in the United States.