Native American tribes in the Southeast, including those around Mobile, AL, were agriculturally adept and had hierarchical societies. The Five Civilized Tribes, which included the Cherokee, faced removal due to the Indian Removal Act, resulting in the Trail of Tears. By 1830, populations were decimated largely due to diseases brought by European settlers.
Step-by-step explanation:
Facts about Native Americans in and Around Mobile, Alabama
The Native American tribes in the Southeast, including the area around Mobile, AL, were adept in agriculture, cultivating crops like maize, tobacco, and beans. The Southeast tribes had a complex societal structure with powerful chiefs and a hierarchical order. The cultures in the Southeast constructed their villages with mounds which served as houses, burial, religious, and storage sites.
Among these tribes were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Seminole, often referred to collectively with others as the Five Civilized Tribes due to their adoption of Anglo-American customs such as speaking English and practicing Christianity. However, following the Indian Removal Act, many of these tribes faced forcible relocation through the Trail of Tears, resulting in significant loss of life and suffering.
The aftermath of the European settlers' arrival was devastating, with a large number of Native Americans perishing from diseases introduced by the settlers. By 1830, only about 100,000 Native Americans remained in the territory. The desire to expand cotton farms led to increased pressure on Native American lands, culminating in their forced removal to plains areas.