Worcester v. Georgia
Definition
Worcester v. Georgia was a Supreme Court case in 1832 that established tribal sovereignty in the United States, stating that laws passed by U.S. states do not apply within Native American tribal territories.
Analogy
Imagine your home as an independent country within a larger country - like Vatican City inside Italy. Your parents make all decisions for your home; outside authorities cannot interfere unless invited. That's how tribal sovereignty works for Native American tribes within US borders.
Related terms
Indian Removal Act: An act signed into law in 1830 by President Andrew Jackson that authorized him to grant unsettled lands west of Mississippi River in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders.
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia: A Supreme Court case prior to Worcester v. Georgia which ruled that Cherokee Nation was not a foreign nation with right to sue in federal court.
Trail of Tears: The forced relocation during 1838-39 of Eastern Woodlands Indians from their ancestral homelands in southeastern U.S., resulting in thousands dying from disease, starvation and exposure.
"Worcester v. Georgia" appears in:
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (3)
- What was the response of President Andrew Jackson to the Supreme Court's ruling in Worcester v. Georgia?
- Which Supreme Court Chief Justice ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation's right to their lands in Worcester v. Georgia?
- What could have been a likely result if Andrew Jackson had chosen to strictly enforce the Supreme Court's decision defending Cherokee rights in Worcester v. Georgia?
Resources
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