Final answer:
The Cherokee were forced to walk the Trail of Tears in winter due to the Indian Removal Act, pressure for land following a gold rush, and President Andrew Jackson's refusal to enforce a Supreme Court decision.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why the Cherokee Were Forced to Walk the Trail of Tears in Winter
The forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation is one of the darkest chapters in American history. The event known as the Trail of Tears was precipitated by the passage of the Indian Removal Act in 1830. The discovery of gold on Cherokee land and the desire of white settlers to expand their territory intensified the pressure on the Cherokee people in the 1830s. The Cherokee resisted removal through legal means, notably in the Supreme Court case Worcester v. Georgia. However, President Andrew Jackson refused to enforce the Supreme Court's decision, which favored the Cherokee. Instead, Jackson relied on the U.S. military to enforce the removal.
In 1838, under the direction of President Martin Van Buren, General Winfield Scott and 7,000 troops were dispatched to Georgia to remove the Cherokee. The harsh conditions and inadequate supplies during the forced march led to the deaths of an estimated 4,000 Cherokee people due to disease, exposure, and starvation. The removal took place during the winter, which only worsened the suffering of the Cherokee. The internal division within the Cherokee Nation, with some leaders signing the unauthorized Treaty of New Echota that led to the forced displacement, further complicated matters. The outcome was a brutal journey that would have long-lasting effects on the Cherokee Nation and other Native American tribes.