John Ross: Champion of Cherokee Land Rights

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John Ross was the first and only elected Cherokee leader. He was one - eighth Cherokee. John went to Washington to protest the Georgia legislature actions for annexing the Cherokee land and he pleaded for justice. John was 38 year old well-informed man who had been in the Cherokee government business since the age of 19. Joseph Vann was a wealthy, hard-working Cherokee leader who owned an 800- acre plantation at Spring Place and built a good brick house for his home. “John Ross, the Cherokees’ leader, hurried to Washington to protest the Georgia legislature's action and plead for justice. Joseph Vann, a hard-working half- breed, had carved out an 800- acre plantation at Spring Place and built a fine brick house for his residence.” (Brown, 283) …show more content…

Two white men arrived to claimed Vann’s residence, fighting for the residence giving the victor the right to force Vann and his family into the hills. When John Ross got home, he found out that the same thing is happening to him and his family. The Georgia land lottery claimed Ross's residence on the Coosa River and he had to go north Tennessee to found his family. Vann and Ross were forced to relocate in west of the Mississippi. “White citizens of that state were claiming the homes of Cherokees through the land lottery, seizing some of them by force. A lottery claimant was living in his beautiful home on the Coosa River, and Ross had to turn north toward Tennessee to find his fleeing wife and children.” (Brown, …show more content…

Joseph Vann a rich businessman, Cherokee leader who possessed his own plantation, slaves, taverns, and steamboats. They end up lost their property because of the Georgia land lottery and forced to go west. Major Ridge and Elias Boudinot decided it were pointless to go against Georgia and United States governments, and decided sign away all the lands of the Cherokees Nation so they could be avoided bloodshed. The Cherokees were forced from their homes at gunpoint and imprisoned in stockades. There are many diseases, deaths, and starvation that has claimed the life of the Cherokees during the capture, imprisonment, and removal. Tsali was tried to resisted by hid with his families, but end up get captured in the end. He died by the firing squads because he bayoneted a soldier for prodded his

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