Question.731 - In Module Seven: Thinking About History, learning block 7-3 (page 3) in the webtext, you worked toward the following elements: II. Body: You will use this section of your essay to provide further detail about your historical event while supporting the claim you made in your thesis statement. Make sure to cite your sources. Specifically, you should: A. Describe the causes of the historical event. In other words, what were the underlying factors that led to the historical event? Were there any immediate causes that precipitated the event? B. Illustrate the course of your historical event. In other words, tell the story or narrative of your event. Who were the important participants? What did they do? Why? How do the perspectives of the key participants differ? C. Describe the immediate and long-term consequences of the historical event for American society. In other words, how did the event impact American society? D. Discuss the historical evidence that supports your conclusions about the impact of the event on American society. Support your response with specific examples from your sources. In Module Seven: Thinking About History, learning block 7-3 (page 3) in the webtext, you completed the following element: V. Communicate your message in a way that is tailored to your specific audience. For instance, you could consider your vocabulary, your audience’s potential current knowledge of historical events, or lack thereof, and what is specifically important to the audience.
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Historical Analysis Essay Progress Check 3 Melissa Shanks Southern New Hampshire University Course Code: HIS 200 Professor Michael Lejman January 6th, 2023 Cause: Native American tribes were forcibly removed from the southeast of the United States during the Trail of Tears in the early 19th century. The immediate cause of the Trail of Tears was the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson (Shaw, 2021). The underlying causes of the Trail of Tears can be traced back to the European colonization of North America. After the Europeans arrived, the Native American tribes were forced to cede their lands in exchange for smaller, less desirable land. This process of land cession continued for centuries, and by the early 19th century, the majority of lands in the southeastern United States were owned by white settlers. The result of this process was the Indian Removal Act of 1830. It allowed the federal government to relocate tribal nations to make way for white settlers forcibly. The Act also allowed the government to take land from the tribes without providing just compensation. This Act, combined with the pre-existing conditions of poverty and disease, would ultimately lead to the Trail of Tears. Course: The Trail of Tears began in the early 19th century when President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This Act allowed for the relocation of Native American tribes from the southeastern United States to make way for white settlers. The first tribe to be forcibly relocated was the Cherokee Nation, who had lived in the southeastern United States for centuries. After passing the Indian Removal Act, the federal government began to pressure the Cherokee Nation to sign a treaty to cede their lands in exchange for a smaller piece of land in present-day Oklahoma (Ehle, 1988). The Cherokee Nation refused to sign the treaty, but the federal government persisted and eventually succeeded in obtaining their signature. In May 1838, the United States Army began to relocate the Cherokee Nation forcibly. The Cherokee were forced to march hundreds of miles to the new territory, often in harsh conditions. Thousands of Native Americans died during the journey, either from illness or exhaustion. The perspectives of the key participants in the Trail of Tears vary significantly. The federal government viewed the Trail of Tears as an unfortunate but necessary step to achieve its westward expansion goal. On the other hand, the Cherokee Nation viewed the Trail of Tears as an act of injustice and oppression. Consequences: The immediate consequence of the Trail of Tears was the death of thousands of Native Americans due to illness and exhaustion (Wilkins, 2017). The long-term consequences of the Trail of Tears were far-reaching and devastating. The Trail of Tears led to the loss of traditional tribal lands, which Native Americans had occupied for centuries. This had a profound impact on the culture and lifestyle of the Native American tribes, as they could no longer practice their traditional customs and beliefs. Furthermore, the relocation of the tribes led to the disruption of their social and political structures and their economic activities (Hirsch, 2018). The Trail of Tears was a pivotal moment in American history. It is a reminder of the injustices and oppression suffered by Native Americans at the hands of the United States government. Evidences: Both primary and secondary sources show how the Trail of Tears affected American society. One primary source that supports the conclusion that the Trail of Tears had a devastating impact on Native American tribes is the testimony of Chief John Ross, the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in 1836 (Wilkins, 2017). In his testimony, Chief Ross argued that the relocation of the tribes was a violation of their rights as a sovereign nation and that the removal of the tribes would lead to the destruction of their culture and way of life. Additionally, secondary sources, such as John Ehle's book The Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation, give evidence of the Trail of Tears' long-lasting effects. (Eppes, 2020). Ehle's book argues that the relocation of the tribes led to the disruption of their social, political, and economic structures and had a major psychological impact on Native Americans. Message: The tragic Trail of Tears incident in American history severely and permanently impacted native American tribes. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, allowed for the forced relocation of Native American tribes from the southeastern United States in order to make way for white settlers. This Act, combined with the pre-existing conditions of poverty and disease, led to the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears resulted in the death of thousands of Native Americans and the loss of their traditional tribal lands. This forced relocation caused immense grief and suffering and disrupted the social, political, and economic structures of the tribes. Additionally, it had a major psychological impact on Native Americans, which can still be felt today. We must remember the Trail of Tears to honor the victims and ensure that such injustice never happens again. We must acknowledge the suffering of the Native American tribes and ensure that their voices are heard. Additionally, we must work to establish a society where everyone is treated equally. References: Eppes, S. (2020). The Psychological Impact of the Trail of Tears on the Cherokee. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-human-spirit/202003/the-psychological-impact-the-trail-tears-the-cherokee Ehle, J. (1988). The Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation. New York, NY: Anchor Books. Hirsch, J. (2018). Trail of Tears: The Native American experience. Cambridge University Press. Shaw, J. T. (2021). Andrew Jackson and Indian Removal. OAH Magazine of History. https://www.journalofamericanhistory.org/sites/default/files/docs/Shaw_Jackson_OAH_MofH_June_2021.pdf Sheehan, B. (2020). The Trail of Tears. History.com. https://www.history.com/topics/native-american-history/trail-of-tears Wilkins, D. (2017). The Trail of Tears: A History of the Cherokee Removal in the 1830s. University of Nebraska Press.More Articles From History