The Cherokee people attempted to keep their land in a number of ways, including political and legal means, as well as resistance and military action. Here are some of the ways the Cherokee attempted to keep their land:
1. Political action: The Cherokee Nation established a constitutional government and became recognized as a sovereign nation by the United States government. They also signed treaties with the US government to protect their land and rights.
2. Legal action: The Cherokee Nation took the US government to court, challenging the forced removal of the Cherokee from their land in a case known as Worcester v. Georgia. The case went to the Supreme Court, but the Court ruled against the Cherokee and upheld the forced removal.
3. Resistance: Some Cherokee resisted the forced removal by hiding in the hills and forests or by joining forces with other Native American groups. They also staged a series of uprisings and armed conflicts against the US military.
4. Military action: A small group of Cherokee, known as the "Cherokee Nationalists," formed a military unit and attempted to defend their land by force. They were eventually defeated by the US military.
Despite these efforts, the Cherokee were ultimately forced to give up their land and were relocated to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in a forced march known as the "Trail of Tears." This event had a devastating impact on the Cherokee people, leading to the loss of their ancestral lands and the deaths of thousands of people.