Cherokee History

Early Cherokee history is largely unknown to historians, largely carried on through verbal traditions or early written documents. The formation of the Cherokee can be dated back to the late 13th century, making them a late-comer in terms of tribal structures in the area.Society around the time of formation is largely described in the papers of the writer John Howard Payne. According to his descriptions, the society of the Cherokee was split into two parts; the "white" elders, who were viewed as saintly and holy men in charge of purification and healing, and the "red" youth, who engaged in the more violent aspects of life, such as warfare. This caste system had largely disappeared by the 18th century, and is largely believed to have dissolved because of a revolution against the Ani-kutani.The earliest theorized contact between the European powers and the Cherokee is attributed to to 1656, where the Spanish explorers reported meeting hundreds of "Mahocks, Nahyssans, and Rechachercrians." The first two names are known to be alternate names for the Sioux, but the last one is argued to bear resemblance to "Eriechronon," a term given to a break-away section of Iroquois who are believed to be the original Cherokee.Through the 17th century, the Cherokee acted as the primary indian tribe that the European settlers interacted with in the region, being the largest and most organized. The Spanish traded well with the Cherokee, and occasionally travelled with them through the region. Initially, the Cherokee traded furs for European technology, but focused on alcohol later on when the Indian slave trade began.The 18th century marked a period of violence and warfare for the Cherokee. Allying with the British, the Cherokee helped the imperial colonies to fight pesky tribes. These efforts culminated in 1730, when the Cherokee were convinced to "elect" Moytoy of Tellico as Emperor of their nation, and recongize the sovereignty of King George II. A delegation of Cherokee, including Attakullakulla, were sent to sign the documents that sealed the deal. The later half of the century marked a period of decline as a smallpox plague struck them. Further, the growing imperialist powers attempted to head off plans of a united Indian nation, which lead to the Second Cherokee War, where the Cherokee were largely defeated.The 19th century is infamous in Cherokee and American history because of the Trail of Tears. As one of the few tribes to have adapted towards the invading Western culture, the Cherokee believed that they were perfectly capable of living in cohabitation; this ideal was not reflected by President Andrew Jackson. In 1830, Jackson attempted to move the Cherokees from their land. John Ross, one of the chiefs, brought a case before the Supreme Court to claim that their claim to the land was righteous. The Supreme Court, in the Cherokee Nation v Georgia case, ruled that the Cherokee had rights to the land, but Jackson ignored the decree, evicting the tribe anyway, infamously being reported as saying; "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it!" John Ross tried once more to get the nation recognized, leading to the case of Worcester v. Georgia, which stated that the government could not extend its laws over the native peoples, and were allowed to resist the actions of the Georgian government without fear of federal offense. Further, his efforts were also are attributed to the creation of the Supreme Court ruling that the Indian Nations were a dependent state; ie they acted as a protectorate state but a sovereign entity. Thus, the recognition of Indian tribes across the United States can be attributed to his actions on the legal front.Despite the horrendous nature of the removal, the Cherokee nation continued to have a rich, but divided history in the later half of the 19th century. A band of Cherokee had been successful in maintaining their homes in the east due to their isolation, and thus an Eastern Cherokee nation was formed and recognized by the states of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. During the Civil War, a large part of the Cherokee fought for the Confederacy, though many also fought for the Union. After the war, the Cherokee granted "freedmen" status to all the slaves they had previously owned. Despite this turn around and their service to the South, the Cherokee themselves were often placed under the same restrictions as Blacks under the Jim Crow Laws. Thus, in the Civil Rights era, they were one of the minorities supporting the movement.