Discussion Guide

1|
What kinds of decisions did the Cherokee Nation face when European Nations—and later the United States—encroached on its homelands?
2|
What is the significance of the U.S. Supreme Court establishing the Cherokee and other tribes as sovereign nations within the United States?
3|
What actions did leaders of the Cherokee Nation take to resist removal?
4|
What effect did the Treaty of New Echota have on Cherokee resistance to removal?
5|
What was the U.S. government’s response to the Cherokee petition against the Treaty of New Echota?
6|
What difficult decisions did leaders of the Cherokee Nation face during their people’s forced removal?
7|
How did the United States president portray removal to the U.S. Congress? How does his portrayal compare to other evidence?
8|
What challenges did the Cherokee face upon their arrival in Indian Territory?
9|
What actions did the Cherokee take to reestablish themselves in Indian Territory?
10|
What actions are Cherokee people taking today to keep their community and culture alive and strong?