Essay On John E Wool Treaty

December 29, 1835, in New Echota, Georgia, officials of the United States Government along with representatives from a Cherokee Indian minority party, signed a treaty which required the ceding of the Cherokee Indians territory in exchange for a payment of five million dollars. The Treaty had been negotiated by Cherokee leader Major Ridge, who claimed to represent the Cherokee nation, but only spoke for a small fraction of the tribe. The agreement became known as the Treaty of New Echota; although the treaty was not approved by the Cherokee council, it was ratified by the United States senate and became the legal basis for the forced removal of the Cherokee nation from Georgia known as the “Trail of Tears”. On March 22, 1837 a document of address

The Cherokee government protested the legality of the treaty until 1838, when United States president Martin Van Buren, mandated orders to United States Army General Winfield Scott. The letter written by John E. Wool was written as a warning to the Cherokee Indians. The letter contained the actions and procedures that the United States Army would take to secure the territory and began the removal of the Cherokee nation Indians; this event led to a death one fifth of the Cherokee nation, distribution of land, and a “Gold Rush” in North Georgia. On June 20, 1836, Secretary of War Lewis Cass selected General John E. Wool as the commander of all federal troops in the Cherokee Nation. Cass ordered Wool to keep the peace between Indians and the whites, defend Indian rights and property, assist the removal commissioners, and to carry out relief operations by providing food and clothing to indigent Indians. His mission was designed to protect the Indians, in order to implement the War Department’s ultimate objective which was to convince the Indians to move west of the United States by 1838; he was ordered to use force only if necessary to

From Kentucky, the groups traveled into Illinois and across Missouri before reaching their land in Oklahoma. Despite efforts of the Cherokee leader John Ross, the Cherokees underwent great hardship on the trail. It is estimated that approximately 4,000 died in the forts or on the trail. The Cherokees call it Nunna-da-ul-tsun-yi, which means the place where they cried. In history it is known as the Trail of Tears. In John E. Wool’s letter to Cherokee nation on March 22nd Wool explains his actions and the terms agreed to in the Treaty. Wool also explains how he tried to protect their culture and provide food and clothing but the Cherokee Indians did not cooperate. He stated in his letter “I told you, if you would submit to the terms of the treaty I would protect you in your persons and property, at the same time I would furnish provisions and clothing to the poor and destitute of the Nation. You would not listen, but turned a deaf ear to my advice. You preferred the counsel of those who were opposed to the treaty.” In the address Wool’s tone appears to be genuine as he tries to warn the Indians of the importance. Although John E. Wool sends a friendly reminder to the Cherokee Nation, on the day of removal 16,000 Indians left the land, an