Customer Reviews

The Trail of Tears (Cornerstones of Freedom)

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This is a nice, brief retelling of what the Trail of Tears was, who was involved, and how terrible it was. It all began with the discovery of gold on the Cherokee lands in Georgia, which had been granted to them by treaty with the United States government. The state of Georgia wanted the land and the gold. As one of the "Five Civilized Tribes," the Cherokees tried to fight for their rights through the legal system. They brought a lawsuit to the Georgia state court, which ruled against them. They appealed the ruling and their case was taken all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled in 1832 that the US government had to honor its treaty and white people were to stay out of Cherokee lands. But even with the Supreme Court supporting them, President Jackson refused to help. Instead, he put through the Indian Removal Act, which started the forced removal of all Native Americans living east of the Mississippi River. The Cherokees were forced to march 800 miles from their homes in Georgia all the way to Oklahoma Territory. Along the Trail of Tears, hundreds died. The Cherokee and other tribes were promised a permanent home in Oklahoma Territory. But in what proved to be the ultimate slap in the face, within thirty years the Federal government opened Oklahoma to white people for settlement. This is one of the most shameful epidsodes in United States history....

The book is bright and colorful, filled with period photographs and art, as well as original drawings showing the hardships of the Trail. The text is easy reading at about a fourth grade level. It makes an excellent supplement to history class, and it opens the door to critically thinking about several issues:

The role and authority of the Supreme Court
The authority and responsibility of the President
How well the US government honors/dishonors its treaties
Treatment of Native Americans in the past and today

The book is an excellent choice for those of a younger age wanting to understand an unsettling portion of American history. Well written and illustrated.