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How did the Trail of Tears shape the development of the United States?

Blake Shiliton

The Trail of Tears was a devastating event in the history of the United States that had a profound impact on the development of the country. This tragic event occurred in 1838 and 1839 when approximately 16,000 Cherokee Indians were forced to leave their ancestral lands in Georgia and forced to march to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) over a distance of more than 1,000 miles. The forced relocation led to the death of thousands of Native Americans due to hunger, disease, and harsh conditions, making it one of the darkest chapters in American history.

The Trail of Tears was part of a larger effort to remove and relocate Native American tribes from their ancestral lands east of the Mississippi River. The federal government justified this policy by citing the doctrine of Manifest Destiny, which claimed that it was the duty of white Americans to expand westward and spread their culture and way of life. The policy of Indian removal, however, was also motivated by economic interests, as the fertile lands inhabited by Native Americans were desired by white settlers for farming and other purposes.

The Trail of Tears was a turning point in the history of the United States, not only because it marked the forced relocation of an entire people but also because it exposed the brutal treatment of Native Americans by the federal government. The event caused a national uproar, which led to the creation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the formation of the Indian Territory, which was set aside for the relocation of Native American tribes. These actions were taken in an attempt to make amends for the wrongs committed against Native Americans.

The impact of the Trail of Tears was not limited to the relocation of the Cherokee people but also contributed to the shaping of the American identity. The forced relocation violated the principles of freedom and liberty that the United States was founded on, and it exposed the hypocrisy of the country's commitment to those ideals. As a result, the event has become a symbol of the dark side of American history and a reminder of the importance of acknowledging the injustices committed against the Native American people.

In conclusion, the Trail of Tears had a lasting effect on the development of the United States. The forced relocation of Native Americans violated basic principles of freedom and liberty and exposed the brutal treatment of Native Americans by the federal government. The event led to the creation of the Indian Territory and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which were attempts to make amends for the wrongs committed against Native Americans. The Trail of Tears serves as a reminder of the importance of acknowledging and confronting the injustices committed against marginalized groups.