20 Images Shows The Trail of Tears and Its Painful Impact on the Cherokee People

The Trail of Tears was a very sad time in the history of the Cherokee. It occurred during the removal of the Cherokee from their land. For a long time they had been living in their land. Their homes, farms, families, traditions and memories were tied to that land. Exile was not just a way of travelling. The wound was a sore in their heart. The Cherokee people did not want to leave. Their land was part of who they were. It provided them with food, shelter, identity and peace. They had established communities and lives there.

Largest Native Nations

However, the government of the United States wished to have Native people removed from their lands. The Cherokee were forced off, so that others could control the land. This was an injustice and very hurtful. The forced removal started in the 1830s. Many Cherokee were forced to journey a great distance from their homes to a new location in the west. It was a long, cold and dangerous trip. A lot of people didn’t have enough food, clothing and shelter. Weather conditions were rough. This is how the Trail of Tears got its name.

Physical pain along the Trail of Tears was not the only pain. It was also heart-felt. Cherokee families were forced to relocate from the land of their parents or grandparents. They were forced to abandon their sacred places, mountains, rivers, homes and graves. During this period many families were broken up. Some people had to grieve for the loss of their parents, children, brothers, sisters and elders. The losses were a source of great grief. Those that survived took with them this sadness. They continued on with their journey despite the pain in their hearts.

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The Trail of Tears also negatively affected the culture of the Cherokee. Exile from the land affects people’s lifestyles. They have to learn new things about their daily routines. They are severed off from familiar places. Their communities are disturbed. The Cherokee were forced to start over in a new place and remember all that had been lost. The suffering didn’t stop after the trip was over. The Cherokee had to start over and not in their home land.

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The Cherokee Nation was forever changed by the Trail of Tears. It was a past of loss and brutality and survival. It revealed the depth of suffering endured by the human being when treated without respect. It also demonstrated the bravery of the Cherokee. Despite the great pain they endured, they were able to preserve their culture, language and identity. The Trail of Tears is a story that is remembered today with sadness and respect. It reminds people of the great injustice the Cherokee people suffered. For more, you can visit our website.

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