Question

What was the response of the Georgians to the new Cherokee government?

Select one:
a. Georgia welcomed the Cherokee with open hearts.
b. Georgia built a statue for the Cherokee leader to honor him.
c. Georgia organized a parade to celebrate the new Cherokee government
d. Georgia refused to recognize the Cherokee government and proclaimed the right to seize Cherokee lands at will.

Answer 1

Georgia did not recognize the Cherokee government that was established and modeled after the American system, and instead, actively worked to undermine it and assert control over Cherokee lands, leading to the eventual forced removal of the Cherokee.

Step-by-step explanation:

The response of the Georgians to the new Cherokee government was not one of acceptance. When the Cherokee adopted a government modeled on the American system and Constitution in 1827, aiming to showcase their acculturation into American society, the state of Georgia did not recognize the Cherokee government. Instead, Georgia proclaimed its sovereignty over Cherokee lands and extended state laws over them. The Georgian government passed a series of laws to undermine Cherokee sovereignty, created the Georgia Guard to intimidate the Cherokee population, arrested principal chief John Ross, and seized the press for the Cherokee Phoenix. Eventually, Georgia conducted a state land lottery to distribute Cherokee lands to white settlers even before the Cherokee had signed treaties ceding land. This open hostility culminated in the eventual forced removal of the Cherokee people along the painful journey known as the Trail of Tears.