Enforcing the Indian Removal Act of 1830, Van Buren's administration removed Cherokee and other native peoples from their homes to be relocated west of the Mississippi, an event known as the "Trail of Tears" that resulted in the death of one quarter of the Cherokee nation. To the north, Canadian rebels did anything they could do for independence from Great Britain, leading loyalist Canadian troops to seize the American ship that had been supplying arms to the rebels and setting it adrift over Niagara Falls. Although many called for a war against Britain, Van Buren exercised restraint.
On May 23, 1838 the deadline for voluntary removal approached, President Van Buren assigned General Winfield Scott to head the forcible removal operation. He arrived at New Echota on May 17, 1838, in command of about 7,000 soldiers. Soldiers began rounding up Cherokees in Georgia on 26 May 1838; ten days later operations began in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. About 17,000 Cherokees - along with approximately 2,000 black slaves owned by wealthy Cherokees - were removed at gunpoint from their homes over three weeks and gathered together in camps, often with only the clothes on their backs.
The Trail of Tears is generally considered to be one of the most regrettable episodes in American history. To remember the event, the U.S. Congress designated the Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail in 1987. It stretches for 2,200 miles across nine states. This worsened the United States relations the the indians because they forced them out of there house with froce that wasn't neccessary.
On May 23, 1838 the deadline for voluntary removal approached, President Van Buren assigned General Winfield Scott to head the forcible removal operation. He arrived at New Echota on May 17, 1838, in command of about 7,000 soldiers. Soldiers began rounding up Cherokees in Georgia on 26 May 1838; ten days later operations began in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Alabama. About 17,000 Cherokees - along with approximately 2,000 black slaves owned by wealthy Cherokees - were removed at gunpoint from their homes over three weeks and gathered together in camps, often with only the clothes on their backs.
The Trail of Tears is generally considered to be one of the most regrettable episodes in American history. To remember the event, the U.S. Congress designated the Trail Of Tears National Historic Trail in 1987. It stretches for 2,200 miles across nine states. This worsened the United States relations the the indians because they forced them out of there house with froce that wasn't neccessary.
