Final answer:
The Cherokee were removed via the Trail of Tears primarily due to white settlers' desire for land in Georgia, the economic development of cotton industry, and political decisions by the U.S. government, despite attempts by the Cherokee at cultural assimilation and legal resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Cherokee were removed from their homeland during an event known as the Trail of Tears. This forced removal was the result of various factors, including the desire for land by white settlers in Georgia, the development of the region for the cotton industry and economic growth, and the political determination by the U.S. government to relocate Native American tribes.
The Cherokee had developed a society with a government similar to the American system and had made many efforts to assimilate. However, their improved lands increased the settlers' pressure for their removal and ultimately led to the brutal forced march to what was designated as Indian Territory, now Oklahoma. The Cherokee faced immense suffering and thousands perished due to disease, malnourishment, and harsh conditions during the Trail of Tears.
Despite the Worcester v. Georgia Supreme Court ruling, which stated that non-Native Americans could not enter tribal lands without permission, President Andrew Jackson and the Georgia state government persisted in enforcing the relocation of the Cherokee. This led to a treaty, signed by a small, unauthorized group of Cherokee, ceding their land in the east for land in Indian Territory and other compensations. The treaty, although controversial and opposed by the majority of the Cherokee people, led to the forced removal by the U.S. military when many Cherokee refused to leave voluntarily.
The Indian Removal Act, signed by President Andrew Jackson, further paved the way for the forced resettlement of the Cherokee and other tribes which collectively came to be known as the Five Civilized Tribes. The act resulted in the death and suffering of many Native Americans and remains a dark chapter in American history.