Essay Example on Cherokee Removal

Back in the 1830s, the Cherokees faced a dilemma over their deportation by the U.S. government. Although many people expected to stay in their homeland, siding with John Ridge and resettling the homeland west of Mississippi would maximize the interests of the Cherokee and ensure the continuation of the nation.

First and foremost, the Cherokees had no bargaining power with the federal, which was very determined to drive them out. Externally, the U.S. government had been putting pressure on the Cherokees and trying to expel them from their land: President Jackson signed the Act to drive out the Cherokees at the federal level. The state government also sold Cherokee land to white Americans in a lottery without the Cherokees' consent (The American Experience, 30:11). Namely, the federal government did not recognize the Cherokee's ownership of their land in the first place. At the same time, the Cherokee lacked the internal strength to counter the U.S. government. Specifically, they were culturally disadvantaged and socially disdained: even though they had worked hard to be Westernized and educated, they were still considered the most despicable people in the eyes of underclass whites (The American Experience, 19:56). What is worse, they could not safeguard their interests by force. As the federal government legislated to move them, the only move the Cherokee could do was to win the people's sympathy and hope that the government would treat them fairly, but it often failed (The American Experience, 38:36). Hence, the only way out for the feeble Cherokees was to leave their homeland and settle elsewhere.

Since the relocation was inevitable, siding with John Ridge's voluntary departure could maximize the protection of the interests of the Cherokee. On the one hand, taking the initiative to leave means that the supplies needed on the road can be fully prepared and packed to reduce the loss of lives during the trek (The American Experience, 1:00:20). On the other hand, voluntarily migrating could get federal compensation to rebuild new homes. The Cherokees, for example, left spontaneously and sold their lands to the federal received $5 million in compensation to build housing, churches, and facilities to develop agriculture (The American Experience, 49:31). In general, spontaneous migration with John Ridge and sold land would primarily ensure that Cherokees could complete the trip safely and move into their new homeland at ease.

Admittedly, John Ross's attempt to preserve the homeland was laudable, but he did not see the hypocritical and egoistic nature of the U.S. government. From Americans' self-reversing guarantees of Cherokee lands to the president's refusal of the Worcester decision and even the Senate's shelving of the everyone-signed Cherokee petition, all the Cherokee's efforts to protect their territory had been futile (The American Experience, 57:27). Realizing this, John Ridge changed his expectations of American law and decided to be the one who must take action and follow those who do not understand-sell the land and move. John Ridge's plan protects people from death threats, even if selling lands would be killed in the street as a traitor. Therefore, John Ridge's choice was not only the most practical protection of Cherokee lives to the greatest extent but also a decision of calmness, soberness, and courage.

In a nutshell, John Ridge's voluntary moving proposal better guarded the life and property of the Cherokee. History has witnessed that the Cherokees adapted well to the new land and doubled their population after the migration (The American Experience, 1:05:23). Consequently, a safe conclusion can be drawn from this result and the above reasoning: following John Ridge's settlement west of the Mississippi would be a better choice for the Cherokee in favor of lives and prosperity. While the loss of their homeland would bring grief to the Cherokees, the immortal nation would eventually make their new homelands imprinted with their own culture and serve as the carrier for the continued glory of Cherokee civilization.