The History of the Cherokee People

The Cherokee Nation is believed to have been one of the largest and most advanced people of the Indian nations in the United States, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Cherokee people were a fierce and highly self-sufficient nation.

Origin

The Cherokee tribe is believed to have originated in the North as part of the Iroquoian tribes. But by the time European explorers landed in the United States in the 1500s, the Cherokee had moved to the Southeast part of the United States. According to ancient archeology, the Cherokee had lived in this area for thousands of years before European contact.

Trail of Tears

During this era in the South (1500s to 1838), the Cherokee continued to grow and prosper alongside the Europeans. This was considered a peaceful time between the Indians and Europeans. But during the early 1800s, after gold was discovered in Georgia, the American settlers decided they wanted the lands of the Cherokee. This began the removal of the Cherokee, and in 1838, the famous "Trail of Tears" was formed. Thousands of Cherokee were herded to Oklahoma to an unknown and harsh land. Due to the conditions the Cherokee were forced to endure during the journey to Oklahoma, thousands died. Some Cherokee resisted the move to Oklahoma and stayed hidden in the hills of Georgia and the surrounding countryside. These people then formed a second band of the Cherokee Nation.

Golden Age

During this transitional time of transplanting the Cherokee people (1838 to 1839), Oklahoma was considered Indian Territory. The ever resourceful people began to rebuild and formed a government, churches, businesses and other commerce from what they had learned during the years with the European settlers. American pioneers who lived around the Indian Territory even paid tuition to the Cherokee Nation so their children could attend the excellent school system there. This was the Golden Age of the Cherokee Nation (1838 to 1861).

Difficult Times Again

During the Civil War (1861 to 1865), even more land was taken from the Cherokee people. The Nation was overrun by both the North and the Southern Cavalry and forced to fight. This reduced their numbers once again. They were forced to become Americans instead of an independent nation. Those that resisted ran to other sections of the south. These resistors had a period of harsh times where the Cherokee people were ostracized for their heritage by the American settlers. A period of helplessness and poverty developed that caused problems for the proud people. These problems included alcoholism, joblessness and suicide.

Overcoming Adversity

Today, there are an estimated 200,000 Cherokee, at least 70,000 of whom still live in Oklahoma. No longer a reservation but a jurisdiction in Oklahoma, the Nation owns parts of the Arkansas River as well as an estimated 66,000 acres of land in Oklahoma. They are the leaders in commerce, job availability and education.