This Blog Provides Historical Overview About Cherokee Nation’s Early Development

The Cherokee tribes inhabited the continent of North America for millennia already. Initially, they were found inhabiting areas in what is today known as North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The members of the tribe resided in well-planned towns close to the river banks and forests. Every community had its leaders who governed from the council houses located in the middle of the settlements. Families raised corn, beans, and squash while hunting for meat, fishing, and gathering fruits.

Historical Overview

For the first time in history, the members of the tribe encountered Europeans in 1540 when the expedition led by Hernando de Soto visited their territory. The encounter marked the beginning of the numerous changes in the lives of Cherokees. The Europeans introduced new tools, species of animals, and trade items to the Indians. Nevertheless, they also spread various diseases that took away many Cherokee lives. Already during the 17th century, frequent contacts with the European traders resulted in the exchange of animal skins in exchange for metal tools, weapons, fabrics, and other items.

Throughout the 18th century, the Cherokee people went through a number of wars and signed treaties not only with European governments but also with the United States. Most of the treaties declared peace and established clear borders between territories of Cherokees and Europeans. Nevertheless, settlers often did not adhere to this regulation and settled down on Cherokee lands. Thus, step-by-step the tribe lost considerable portions of its ancestral home. In 1821, Sequoyah completed the syllabary which was invented specifically for the Cherokee language.

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In 1825, the Cherokee established New Echota as their national capital in what is now known as Georgia. Here, their leaders used to meet for making laws and other national matters. The city became the capital of the Cherokee nation. In 1827, the Cherokee adopted the Constitution that divided their government into three branches: executive, legislative and judicial. The person chosen as principal chief was John Ross. He assumed his office in 1828. Also in the same year, the first Cherokee newspaper named Cherokee Phoenix started publishing in Cherokee and English.

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The Indian Removal Act of 1830 gave the U.S. government the right to move native people westward from the Mississippi River. The majority of Cherokee rejected the idea of relocation. However, in 1835, only several people signed the Treaty of New Echota. It was not approved by the central authority of Cherokee people. In 1839, the Cherokee reconstructed their national government in the area known as Indian Territory. Tahlequah was selected as their new capital. Despite suffering losses, they still preserved their government, language, traditions and identity.

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