Trail Of Tears Research Paper

Words: 478
Pages: 2

The Trail of Tears, a tragic event in American history, proves the consequences of government forced relocation and oppression have affected over 100,000 Native Americans. It not only resulted in the loss of lives but also the loss of land, culture, along with freedom. European exploration and colonization were based on the quest for God, gold, as well as glory (Motivations for,n.d.). After the Crusades, Europeans viewed colonization for trading purposes but even for religious reasons. Trade routes from the east involving silks, metals, etc. influenced many expeditions, including one set for the New World. Spain's wealth occurred during the Age of Exploration because of the enslavement of indigenous people in the Americas. The Columbian Exchange …show more content…
Tobacco was found to be increasing in popularity, pushing European expansion in the Americas. In 1493, Pope Alexander the Sixth created an international law that related indigenous people to a lower status based on their non-Christian beliefs. This law, known as the doctrine of discovery, allowed European colonizers to claim land inhabited by non-Christian peoples under the idea that Christianity can save their souls. This law was a legal pretext for the assimilation of the Native Americans into European culture and lifestyle. During 1838 and 1839, the Cherokee tribe was moved from the eastern side of the Mississippi River to present-day Oklahoma. This was due to President Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy, which was to clear Native Americans from valuable land for white settlement. The Cherokee people were the most exploited, as they were taken from their homes and forced to travel on a dangerous journey of 5,045 miles (Pauls, 2024) known as the "Trail of Tears." The name came from the pain and suffering the Cherokee people experienced. Over six thousand people died from exhaustion, abuse, diseases, and malnourishment during the