Who mandated the Trail of Tears?

By 1838, only about 2,000 Cherokees had left their homeland in Georgia for the Indian Territory. President Martin Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott and 7,000 troops to speed up the removal process. Scott and his troops forced the Cherokee soldiers into bunkers at bayonet point while his men looted their homes and belongings.

Why did Andrew Jackson start the Trail of Tears?

Both as a military leader and as president, Jackson pursued a policy of removing Native American tribes from their ancestral lands. This relocation would make room for settlers and often for speculators who made large profits from buying and selling land.

Who was president at the time of the trail of tears?

By 1838, only about 2,000 Cherokees had left their homeland in Georgia for Indian Territory. President Martin Van Buren sent General Winfield Scott and 7,000 troops to speed up the removal process. Scott and his troops forced the Cherokee people into stockades at bayonet point while whites looted their homes and possessions.

How many Cherokees signed the Trail of Tears?

Only 300 to 500 Cherokees were there; none were elected officials of the Cherokee Nation. Tyve signed the treaty, ceding all Cherokee territory east of the Mississippi to the United States in exchange for $5 million and new homelands in Indian Territory. More than 15,000 Cherokees protested the illegal treaty.

Why did so many people die on the trail of tears?

Many died along the way. This forced relocation became known as the "Trail of Tears" because of the great hardships faced by the Cherokees. Under brutal conditions, nearly 4,000 Cherokees died on the Trail of Tears. Conflicts with settlers led to the American Indian Removal Act

Who was responsible for the logistics of the Trail of Tears?

The lucky guy who was chosen to handle the actual logistics of the forced removal of thousands of people was Winfield Scott. He is widely regarded as the greatest general of his time: he commanded troops in three major wars and ran for president three times.