by John Brant

Created on: March 17, 2010   Last Updated: May 22, 2010

In George Washington’s administration, the Cherokee received the message that if they adopted the white man’s government, economy, and culture, they would rise to new heights and share the South as equals.  To Washington and every president until Andrew Jackson, the belief that governed their Native American policies was that with education, tribal citizens could become United States citizens and eventually disappear as the new nation absorbed them.  Once the Cherokee and the other members of the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations) became adept at

adopting European civilizations, the United States rewarded their efforts by taking their lands and forcing them to move to modern-day Oklahoma.

An ironic problem for the Five Civilized Tribes began to become apparent in the 1830s.  They had adopted the aspects of European civilization too well.  These tribes still owned most of South, including western Georgia and most of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.  When Georgia had ceded its western lands to the United States, which included all of this territory except Florida, it did so with the understanding that the tribal land claims would be extinguished and southerners could rush in and claim the lands for their own use.  

In Washington’s administration, the Cherokee received the message that if they adopted the white man’s government, economy, and culture, they would rise to new heights and share the South as equals.  To Washington and every president until Jackson, the new republic built their relations with Native Americans on the belief that with education, tribal citizens could become United States citizens and eventually disappear as the new nation absorbed them. 

Once the Cherokee and the other members of the Five Civilized Tribes (Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations) became adept at adopting European civilizations, the United States rewarded their efforts by taking their lands and forcing them to move to modern-day Oklahoma.  Ironically, the Five Civilized Tribes began to adopt the aspects of European civilization too well. 

These tribes still owned most of South, including western Georgia and most of Alabama, Mississippi and Florida.  When Georgia had ceded its western lands to the United States, which included all of this territory except Florida, it did so with the understanding that the tribal land claims would be extinguished

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