Cherokee Indian Marriages

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Although there are several beliefs on how the Cherokee first arrived historical evidence shows they inhabited southeastern North American between A.D. 1000 and 1500 (Boudinot, 1829). Elias (1829) found The Trail of Tears to be “the best known episode in history as well as the worst,” for this devastating event forced relocation of the Indians from their home land in the southeast to a new unfamiliar land in Oklahoma. Thousands of Indians were forced from their homes with no warning and directed to march in the middle of winter to Oklahoma (Boudinot, 1829). According to Boudinot (1829), “this devastating event left 4-8 thousand Cherokee people dead from starvation and unknown diseases they picked up along the trail, thus decreasing their population size drastically.” However, some Cherokees were able to flee the Trail of Tears by hiding in the Appalachian hills, or obtaining shelter from caring friends in the area that was targeted in this catastrophic event. After this event the Cherokee essentially no longer “existed” in their previous home in North/South Carolina and Georgia. Those who were able to escape The Trail of Tears and continue their lives in their home-land struggled drastically and faced many challenges. The Cherokee adapted rather quickly to their new environment; for there was plenty of water, deer, and other small animals like rabbits and squirrels to hunt, as well as fish in the rivers to catch (Boudinot, 1829). The Cherokee lived in the pine forests along the Allegheny River, as well as in the mountains. Survival for them was extremely easy due to weather conditions, which were normal and not abnormally cold or hot. Their houses comprised river-cane and plaster with thatched roofs, which weren’t time consuming t...

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