How to Follow the Trail of Tears

Congressman Davy Crocket fought against the passage of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, mirroring the feelings of many whites of the day. Crockett felt so against the ultimate passage of the law that he resigned his seat in Congress. The mandatory removal of the Indians included many different tribes. There were a total of 4 removal trails--1 by water and 3 by land. The combination of all of the trails is known as the Trail of Tears. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• A map of the southeastern United States

Trail by Water

1. Imagine the scene. The first two trips (one by land and one by water) of the evicted Indian people were forcibly led by the U.S. Army. The trips proved disastrous for the Cherokees. Deplorable conditions that contributed included dysentery and lack of food. Many deaths occurred as a result.
2. Sail (in your mind) on the water route as it left on the Tennessee River—in winter—from Chattanooga, Tennessee. Maintaining perseverance, they went to the northeast corner of Mississippi and traveled across Tennessee and western Kentucky to the southeast tip of Illinois.
3. Look at the map on the North Georgia website to see as the trail continued down the Ohio until it connected with the Mississippi. From there, it went down the Mississippi River to the convergence of the Arkansas River. Sailing on the Arkansas River to Fort Smith, Arkansas, the trail started by land and ended in what is currently northeastern Oklahoma.

Trail by Land

4. Understand that the last 2 trails were led by John Ross. At that time, Ross was the leader of the Cherokee nation. He took the job after beseeching U.S. Army General Winfield Scott to put him in charge of their removal. Unfortunately, nothing could be done to protect the Indians from the dangers.
5. Think about this—these last two routes were organized and led by Cherokees, but they were placed under the protection and provision of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Army. While not as deadly as the other two treks, there was still a great loss of life due to broken promises and treaties. These deaths included Ross' own wife.
6. Consider those who escaped. As the humiliating walk began, approximately 400 people broke away from the roundup by the soldiers. They ran into the hills of North Carolina where their descendants live to this day and are known as the Eastern Band of the Cherokees.
7. Follow the trail again from Charleston, Tennessee, and continue through western Kentucky. Here you see the deadliest land route encountered by the Indians. They crossed the Ohio River (at flood stage) into southern Illinois. Next, they walked across southern Illinois and into Missouri once again.
8. Cross the Mississippi River (also at flood stage during this time) near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Go across southern Missouri, past Springfield and down into the northern tip of Arkansas into present day Northeast Oklahoma. This was the longest of the routes—all accomplished in winter.
9. See for yourself where the Cherokee Nation settled in present-day Tahlequah, Oklahoma. This is a streamlined explanation of a historical event that took months to endure.

Tips & Warnings

• A direct Cherokee translation of The Trail of Tears is, "The Trail Where They Cried" ("Nunna daul Tsuny").
• The name "Trail of Tears" came from a quote given to a reporter for the Arkansas Gazette. Nitikechi, a Chief of the Choctaw nation, told a reporter that the November 1831 removal of the Choctaws had been "a trail of tears and death."
• Currently, the U. S. National Parks Service maintains certain portions of the Trails of Tears. They have a website and newsletter dedicated to this event.