Nativism exists as a way to protect the culture, people, land, and heritage of those from indigenous decent. As history goes on, it has become a pattern for natives to experience alienation and segregation. This can be seen in historical events such as the Trail of Tears in 1850 and the Cherokee–American wars in the late 1700's. These events lead to the decline and persecution of indigenous peoples in the United States, and through these events, the idea of nativism rose. Nativism was established to protect the rights and freedoms of natives in the US.