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Trail of Tears

Definition

The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation and journey of thousands of Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee tribe, from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in the 1830s. This forced migration resulted in immense suffering and loss of life for many indigenous people.

Analogy

Imagine being abruptly uprooted from your home and community, and then being forced to walk a long, arduous trail with limited resources. It's like losing everything you know and love, walking through pain and hardship along a path that feels endless.

Related terms

Indian Removal Act: A law passed by the U.S. government in 1830 that authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their homelands to make way for white settlers.

Andrew Jackson: The seventh president of the United States who signed the Indian Removal Act into law and played a significant role in enforcing Native American removal policy.

Indigenous Peoples: Communities or societies with distinct cultural, historical, and territorial ties to specific regions before colonization or dominant settler societies arrived.