11.7 – Think and Apply Activity 2
Before beginning this activity, review this brief summary of the reading text for Module 11: Westward Expansion and Indigenous Communities.
After the American Revolution, the United States expanded its territory through wars, treaties, and purchases, such as the Louisiana Purchase. As settlers moved west, Native American lands were taken, and Indigenous peoples were forcibly removed and subjected to assimilation policies. Native children were placed in boarding schools to erase their cultures. Despite being granted citizenship in 1924, Native people faced many barriers to voting until 1958. Today, over 570 sovereign tribal nations are recognized in the U.S. These nations have the power to govern themselves and preserve their cultures. Native peoples continue to thrive and advocate for their rights and sovereignty.
Treaty of New Echota Reading Activity
1) Remember that the U.S. government passed laws to take away Native lands and forced Native people to sign treaties (or agreements).
Look at the Treaty of New Echota Reading Activity handout. You and your classmates will review small parts of an actual treaty called The Treaty of New Echota that was written by the U.S government.
Listen and follow along as your teacher reads the original language quotes. Student volunteers can read out loud the two simplified quotes. Then answer the questions below.
Abbreviated quotes from the Treaty of New Echota:
| ARTICLE 1 (original language): The Cherokee nation hereby cede relinquish and convey to the United States all the lands owned, claimed or possessed by them east of the Mississippi river, and hereby release all their claims upon the United States for spoliations of every kind for and in consideration of the sum of five millions of dollars to be expended paid and invested in the manner stipulated and agreed upon in the following articles.ARTICLE 1 (simplified language):The Cherokee Nation agrees to give up, let go, and hand over to the United States all the lands they have in the east of the Mississippi River. They also promise to stop asking the United States for any kind of compensation for damages, or losses. In return, the United States will pay them five million dollars, which will be used, paid, and invested according to the rules laid out in the following articles. |
| ARTICLE 16 (original language):
It is hereby stipulated and agreed by the Cherokees that they shall remove to their new homes within two years from the ratification of this treaty. ARTICLE 16 (simplified language): The Cherokees have agreed that they will move to their new homes within two years from the approval of this treaty. |
What did the treaty require the Cherokee people to do? Discuss with a partner and write some answers on your paper. Talk about the answers as a class.
2) Read (or listen as your teacher reads) a letter by a Cherokee leader/chief named John Ross in response to the Treaty of New Echota. Read it again to yourself or a partner, and pay attention to the word choices that the writer uses.
| Cherokee leader/chief John Ross letter [paraphrased and shortened]:
LETTER FROM JOHN ROSS TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SEPTEMBER 28, 1836 By the conditions listed in the Treaty of New Echota, we are robbed of our private possessions, the property of individuals, which cannot be taken away by any treaty… We are robbed of every element of freedom and every opportunity to defend ourselves legally. Our property may be taken away from us before our eyes; physical violence may be done to us; even our lives may be taken away, and there is no one to listen to our complaints. We have had our nation taken from us. We have had our right to vote taken from us. We have had our membership in the human family taken from us! We have neither land nor home, nor resting place that can be called our own. And all of this is because of the conditions listed in an agreement, which has been given the respected, holy name of “treaty.” |
After reading/reviewing the excerpt, write answers to question #1 ( you may need to read the letter again!), then discuss question #2 with a partner.
- What does John Ross say about how the Cherokee people feel about the treaty? What words give you clues to understand their feelings?
- How does John Ross’ language compare to the language of the treaty?
