Trail of Tears, and Cherokee Removal

[rickb]

I think most are familiar with the forced removal of the Cherokee from northwestern Georgia under the shameful direction of President Andrew Jackson. While the AT itself doesn't follow the Trail of Tears, I am wondering if any of the blue blazes connecting to it might. Or if there are any historical sights celebrating the Cherokee nation along the AT. To my way of thinking, it would be worthwhile pondering the Cherokee experience when walking through those beautiful mountains. Not sure if there are plaques, markers or other reminders along the way, however.

[HiKen2011]

I think most are familiar with the forced removal of the Cherokee from northwestern Georgia under the shameful direction of President Andrew Jackson. While the AT itself doesn't follow the Trail of Tears, I am wondering if any of the blue blazes connecting to it might. Or if there are any historical sights celebrating the Cherokee nation along the AT. To my way of thinking, it would be worthwhile pondering the Cherokee experience when walking through those beautiful mountains. Not sure if there are plaques, markers or other reminders along the way, however.

Shameful is correct sir, being of Cherokee blood........but that's all I have to say about that!

[LoneRidgeRunner]

Shameful is correct sir, being of Cherokee blood........but that's all I have to say about that!

I don't have any Native American blood but I agree..It was very shameful and cruel the way the American Indians were treated by the early White Man

[Trailbender]

I don't have any Native American blood but I agree..It was very shameful and cruel the way the American Indians were treated by the early White Man

Yeah, many races throughout the years were treated badly by each other. Irish used to not even be considered white, and were treated even worse than blacks.

[double d]

Yeah, many races throughout the years were treated badly by each other. Irish used to not even be considered white, and were treated even worse than blacks.

Well as an Irish American (last name is Doyle, family is from Mallow Ireland), I can say we certainly faced alot of cruality from the Brits and later experienced much discrimination in America, but.............we were never treated anywhere near as bad as blacks were in America. Might want to read more Irish-American history before you start comparing Irish-American history to the Alantic Slave trade. Read the book "How The Irish Became White" for a good start.

[Bucherm]

Yeah, many races throughout the years were treated badly by each other. Irish used to not even be considered white, and were treated even worse than blacks.

The Irish were chattel slaves?

[camojack]

http://www.nps.gov/trte/index.htm

Thanks for the link.

max my son is one eight cherokee. his mother is one quarter and her grandmother was a full blooded cherokee medicine woman.

I'm a quarter Cherokee myself...but I think you already knew that.

For those who ride
http://www.trailoftears-remembrance.org/

Thanks for that link too.

The Irish were chattel slaves?

Yes, they were. Since you're on this fascinating medium know as the Internet (purportedly invented by Al Gore) you might want to try utilizing its amazing powers of discovery, A.K.A. "search engines". Here are a couple of links to get you started:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Were_there_Irish_slaves
http://www.africaresource.com/rasta/...-white-slaves/

I'm also a quarter Irish...

[Trailbender]

The Irish were chattel slaves?

Even worse. Slaves cost money and were considered property. That is wrong, obviously, but many of the Irish, Russians, ect, were indentured servants, meaning they had to work 7 years to pay off the cost of their ticket, so they were basically owned for that time period, barely fed, ect. It is a largely forgotten part of our history.

To understand why slaves were usually treated "better", the average slave cost 20K in today's dollars. That is why only 6% of whites ever owned slaves. In fact, many poor whites worked alongside slaves in the fields.

The US learned the slave trade from the Spanish and Portugese, who used them extensively in South American silver mines and sugar plantations.

[Rain Man]

It was very shameful and cruel the way the American Indians were treated by the early White Man

You think they have been treated pretty well by "later" White Man?

What about how Asians were treated by White Man out west? Good?

To my knowledge, Asians could not own property in western States until well into the 20th Century, long after "Indians" and "Blacks" could own property in the South.

You are correct, it was shameful, but let's open our eyes to other areas and periods. It continued to be shameful and still is. You know how Hispanics are treated today by current White Man? Know about migrant workers and slavery today? It's well documented. And shameful.

White Man has a pretty horrible track record and seems intent on burnishing the polish on it continually. We certainly have no laurels to rest on.

Rain Man

.

[Gray Blazer]

White Man has a pretty horrible track record and seems intent on burnishing the polish on it continually. We certainly have no laurels to rest on.

Rain Man

.

Too much "white guilt" will get ya. My ancestors died in the Civil war trying to free the slaves. I don't know who taught the greeks and the romans slavery, but, I'm guessing africans?

When one of my black students chides another black student for "akking white" what does he/she mean? That they are behaving and listening to the teacher?

The color of your skin don't matter to me ... as long as we can live in harmony. Why can't we be friends?

[rickb]

Too much "white guilt" will get ya. My ancestors died in the Civil war trying to free the slaves. I don't know who taught the greeks and the romans slavery, but, I'm guessing africans?

Understanding something about history is not about "white guilt".

None of us were alive when Jackson ignored the decrees of the Supreme Court, evicted the Cherokee from their homesteads and then distributed their wealth by way of a government run lottery.

Interesting to ponder what happened on the land where one is walking, though.

[FatMan]

The trail of tears is the name given to the removal of the Cherokee. There never was a common trail used during the removal. The Cherokee were instructed to report to multiple regional "transfer stations" and each group traveled separately and took different routes.

General Winfield Scott was in charge of the removal. Most are familiar with the Lake Winfield Scott Forest Service Campground near Blood Mtn.

[Many Walks]

rickb, My wife is part Cherokee and I wondered the same thing when we were in the area as I bet many others have. I hope to follow the Trail of Tears some day while trying to imagine what it may have been like.

[Many Walks]

http://www.nps.gov/trte/index.htm

[FatMan]

The Dahlonega Gold Museum has a section dedicated to the Trail of Tears if you are interested in the history. Ranger Julia Autry is an expert on the topic. She spent many years as a Ranger at the Vann House.

[mweinstone]

the library at matthewskidria contains the knowlage of the ages. unlike its sister library ,formerly in alexandria, the library at matthewskidria has a fire protection system.

[mweinstone]

max my son is one eight cherokee. his mother is one quarter and her grandmother was a full blooded cherokee medicine woman.

[WingedMonkey]

the library at matthewskidria contains the knowlage of the ages. unlike its sister library ,formerly in alexandria, the library at matthewskidria has a fire protection system.

Urinating on books is not a "fire protection system"

[endubyu]

For those who ride
http://www.trailoftears-remembrance.org/

[Papa D]

There is no trail of tears (actual trail) - this is a term for the sad Cherokee removal - if you walk the AT, consider those that came long before you and how they lived in these mountains - be respectful to the mountains and the land as best as you can be and honor the American Indain. In this way and others you can "walk" the trail of tears.