In "Trail of Tears" Sara and Amy Vowell retrace the
steps of the Cherokee people as they are forced off the land. In the telling
of this journey Sara and Amy sequence the events and then reflect on the consequences
of the events.
The girls describe the events leading up to the forced evcacuation
of the Cherokee then offer their feelings on the events. The sequence of events
as told by the girls are as follows...
- Supreme Court rules in favor of the Cherokee deciding that
they represent an independent sovereign nation and have all the rights of
such.
- President Andrew Jackson basically ignores this decision,
and the Constitution for that matter, saying "the Supreme Court has made
its ruling now let see it enforce it."
- With no backing from the federal government the Cherokee
were forced with a decision to fight for their land or sell and move west.
- With nothing to fear from the federal government the state
of Georgia moved in to auction the Cherokee's land.
- 100 Cherokee men sell the land held by the entire Cherokee
nation without consent from the 16,000 Cherokee people.
- Cherokee leader, Ross, is unlawfully jailed at this time
to make sure he doesnt prevent the sell of his people's land.
After Sara and Amy describe these events they reflect on their
consequences to the Cherokee people at the time and how these injustices make
them feel today.
This image is taken from The
Cherokee "Trail of Tears" 1838-1839