Cherokee

=The Cherokee: A Perspective on American History= by Justine Soriano and Shawn Stearns



The Cherokee are a Native American group. Pre-1492, they lived in the region now called Virginia State in the U.S. and Kentucky, which is near Florida. Geographical features that would have limited this group’s ability to move include: the Appalachian Mountains. Pre-1492, this group probably interacted with its neighbors, especially the Spanish. Eventually, the Cherokee would shape American history in the following ways: by helping in wars and forming the Cherokee nation.
 * Introduction:**

The Cherokee believed that the world formed when a water beetle brought up some mud to the surface then the humans came when it was dry enough to stay on land.the Cherokee believed the sun and the moon were gods. they believed that if you did something bad you would be killed by animals.
 * Religion (Worldview):**


 * Population in the United States:** Today, the numbers of Cherokee are estimated to be between 300,000+ depending on the source.


 * HISTORY:**

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 * 1492: Columbus’ Arrival in the Americas**

Chiefs ruled the Cherokee. In 1567, the Spanish (Juan Pardo) built 6 forts near by. The Cherokee encounter the Spanish in 1540 (de Soto).
 * 1521: Cortes Encounters the Aztecs in Mexico**

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 * 1607: English Colonists Arrive at Jamestown**

The Cherokee had a trade connection with other tribes around the south east corner of the US. They had contact with the English.
 * 1687: English Colonies Expand**

1716 Cherokee leaders was murdered at the Cherokee town of Tugaloo. The Cherokee killed the English off a little. The Cherokee encountered the Shawnee, British, English and the French.
 * 1776-1787: American Revolution; U.S. Constitution**

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 * 1802: Tlingit Battle the Russians at Sitka**

The Cherokee were forced out of their homeland by the American government because of the gold rush and the white population was growing. The Cherokee were displaced from their home land by the US government and forced to march 1,000 miles west to reservation land in Arkansas. Many people died.
 * 1839: The Amistad; the Trail of Tears**

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 * 1850: Fugitive Slave Law Made**

The Dawes act of 1887 provided for the break up of communally held tribal lands, meaning the Cherokee's land was divided up and given to all Americans who applied.
 * 1863: The U.S. Civil War; Emancipation Proclamation**

The U.S. Curtis Act of 1898 forced the break-up of Native American governments. For the Cherokee, this meant they were no longer allowed to have their own courts on the Oklahoma reservation.
 * 1890: Westward Movement; Reform Movements**

Today, the population of the Cherokee is estimated to be around 300,000-400,000.
 * 2009: Today**


 * Works Cited:** http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee