Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation

Book Description

The fascinating portrayal of the Cherokee nation, filled with Native American legend, lore, and religion -- a gripping American drama of power, politics, betrayal, and ambition.

B & W photographs

Customer Reviews:

Unevenly written but an enjoyable read.......2007-07-24

Ehle's writing style can be entertaining, but is also uneven and at times downright confusing. The strengths are his telling of the Major Ridge story, which is really what this book is about, i.e. The life of Major Ridge and his son, John Ridge, and nephews, Elias Boudinot and Stand Watie. This was the first book I had read about the events leading up to the Trail of Tears, and I came away with the distinct impression that Ridge was a tragic hero who was treacherously murdered by the anti-treaty party of John Ross. Ross is portrayed as basically an inept leader who spends his life on a wild-goose chase to hold on to the Eastern Cherokee lands.

Imagine my surprise when I did some more research and learned that that is not at all how the Cherokee view these two men. On the contrary, Ross is seen as the hero and Ridge as a traitor, and in hindsight I see why that is.

Read this book for some info into the life of Major Ridge, but to find out how the Cherokee see the Trail of Tears, read something else.

Not all shame belongs to the white man.......2007-07-09

No one can doubt that the Native Americans were robbed of their land and wealth in the white mans rapid expansion and desire for land. What this book brings to light are the other culprits in this tragedy. It is difficult to picture a leader of the Cherokee people being a lobbyist in Washington while securing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of contracts for him self, family and friends. This is a story of two migrations of the Cherokee people to the new Indian Territory one with little or no suffering along the way and the other the Trail of Tears.

trail of tears.......2007-06-13

The book was great. It had all the information I needed.

Counterpoint to the whitewash.......2006-10-19

Darwin might suggest that the exodus of the Cherokees from their native land to new territories was an example of a uniquely human ability to decide to survive. To remain in areas near an invading population with superior technology and ever growing numbers could easily result in annihilation. History had already proven this could be the case. What makes the Trail of Tears a segment of history that every American should be aware of is the uniquely inhuman reasons why the Indians were faced with a decision at all.

The book takes a cursory tour of history up to the time of the Trail of Tears then makes a more illustrative turn as it settles into describing the rift created within the Cherokee tribe surrounding their dilemma. John Ross and his followers preferred to stay, while Major Ridge and his son organized to leave.

This rift set in motion a number of well described events that not only tore the tribe apart in waves that echo to this day, it laid waste to many lives and much property along the way. Although the book starts with a plodding pace, it gradually builds into a complex weave of politics and a tragic drama.

The Trail of Tears certainly leaves one to question why are so proud of Andrew Jackson that he must be printed on every $20 bill and why we insist on calling the football team from Washington the "Redskins". We should recognize a derogatory attitude for what it is and have more respect for a civilization that held the original title to this land.

Woefully inomplete and biased.......2006-09-28

The "Rise" of the Cherokee nation is nowhere to be found in this book. In fact the "Fall" is well underway before chapter one, and continues to this day with the publication of tripe like this.
Any fair depiction of a clash of cultures needs to see each culture in it's context. Ehle doesn't seem to attempt this. His descriptions of Cherokee and settler life make no attempt to relate to their specific histories, but merely poke at them with a judgemental 20th century stick.
Two stars are simply because he has thrown out many names that anyone with a serious interest in the subject can use as tools for research.

Average customer rating:

Highly Recommended
A very worthy read
Outstanding Read for anyone interested in a complete cherokee history
A documented historical survey of the Cherokee people

The Cherokee Nation: A History
Robert J. Conley
Manufacturer: University of New Mexico Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 082633234X

Book Description

The Cherokee Nation is one of the largest and most important of all the American Indian tribes. The first history of the Cherokees to appear in over four decades, this is also the first to be endorsed by the tribe and the first to be written by a Cherokee.

Robert Conley begins his survey with Cherokee origin myths and legends. He then explores their relations with neighboring Indian groups and European missionaries and settlers. He traces their forced migrations west, relates their participations on both sides of the Civil War and the wars of the twentieth century, and concludes with an examination of Cherokee life today.

Conley provides analyses for general readers of all ages to learn the significance of tribal lore and Cherokee tribal law. Following the history is a listing of the Principal Chiefs of the Cherokees with a brief biography of each and separate listings of the chiefs of the Eastern Cherokees and the Western Cherokees. For those who want to know more about Cherokee heritage and history, Conley offers additional reading lists at the end of each chapter.

"Conley speaks with a clear Cherokee Indian voice to show how his tribe's cultural characteristics have survived centuries of abrupt change."Â—The Cherokee Advocate

"[Robert Conley is] in the ranks of N. Scott Momaday, Louise Erdrich, James Welch or W. P. Kinsella as interpreters of the many facets of the Native American experience."Â—Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Robert Conley's history of the Cherokees is the first to be endorsed by the Cherokee Nation and to be written by a Cherokee.

Customer Reviews:

Highly Recommended.......2007-07-19

Conley's book, "The Cherokee Nation: A History" is an eminently readable, concise but thoughtful account of the Cherokee people from prehistoric times up to the present day. The book is formatted in such a way as to make it an ideal text for high school and college classes. At the end of each chapter is a source list and suggestions for further reading. Also at the end of each chapter is an unusual but helpful feature- a glossary of key terms. The book contains interesting maps, photographs and drawings, along with a list of chiefs for the various factions of the Cherokee tribe and nation.

In addition to being easily understood, a principal strength of the book is that the author questions some traditional beliefs and sources about the Cherokee past without appearing to be a revisionist or an individual with an agenda in his writing. One such example is when Conley tells the story of Alexander Cuming, an Englishman who took seven Cherokee men with him to England in 1730. One of the Cherokee, Oukanekah, is recorded as having said to the King of England: "We look upon the Great King George as the Sun, and as our Father, and upon ourselves as his children. For though we are red, and you are white our hands and hearts are joined together..." Conley wonders if Oukanekah actually said these things and points out that the only version we have of this story is the English version. There is nothing to indicate if Oukanekah spoke in English or Cherokee, or if his words were recorded at the time they were spoken or were written down later. Conley also points out that in Cherokee culture, the Sun was considered female, so it is curious that King George would be looked upon as the Sun. The "redness" of Native American skin was a European perception. The Cherokee would have described themselves as brown. But Conley does not overly dwell on these things. He continues to tell the story using the sources available.

The one weakness of the book is shared by almost all history texts that attempt to document events to the present day. The last two or three chapters tend to read a bit superficially, more like history's first draft rather than how the rest of the book reads. In these last chapters, Conley's writing takes on a political bent, with harsh criticism of Chief Joe Byrd. The book portrays Byrd's successor, Chad Smith, in a heroic light. Conley's criticism of federal government involvement in the clash between the two factions also seems a bit shallow. The reader may feel as though he is not getting the full story, though there are some terribly autocratic quotes attributed to Joe Byrd.

The skill of Conley in communicating his ideas never diminishes, however. This book is highly recommended as a good place to start the study of Cherokee history. It serves as excellent reference material and belongs in the library of anyone serious about the study of Native Americans.

A very worthy read.......2006-09-15

This is a well written and important addition to understanding the Cherokee. Also highly recommended is Walking the Trail, One Man's Journey Along the Cherokee Trail of Tears by Jerry Ellis, who was the first person in modern history to walk the 900 mile route.

Outstanding Read for anyone interested in a complete cherokee history.......2006-07-05

This book is truly remarkable for anyone interested in a thorough history of the Cherokee people. I would recommend it for academic and recreational reading alike.

A documented historical survey of the Cherokee people .......2005-07-04

On September 6, 2005, the Cherokee Nation will observe the 66th anniversary of the adoption of its constitution, but the Cherokee tribe itself has survived since prehistory, and in the 19th and 20th centuries, found itself having to cope with land cessation, forcible relocation, and bloody wars, as it evolved to become one of the largest and most influential of the Native American tribes within the continental United States. In The Cherokee Nation: A History, Robert J. Conley (who is an enrolled member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokees and lives in Tahlequah, Oklahoma) provides the reader with a documented historical survey of the Cherokee people from their origins in the Old South, through forced relocation west along the infamous "Trail of Tears", to the formation of a sovereign government which negotiated treaties with the United States government. The Cherokee Nation brings the history of these enduring Native Americans up to the present day, complete with recent political trends, as well as economic contributions of the Cherokee. Presenting a wonderfully informative and readable text, The Cherokee Nation is enhanced for academia and non-specialist general readers with the inclusion of a number of appendices including "Principals Chiefs of the Cherokee Nation"; "Chiefs of the Western Cherokees"; Chiefs of the Texas Cherokees"; The Confederate Cherokee Nation and Chief Stand Watie"; "Chiefs of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians"; Chiefs of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians"; Cherokee Nation Treaties"; and "Western Cherokee Treaties". The Cherokee Nation is a seminal work of superb historical scholarship and enthusiastically recommended for personal, academic, and community library Native American Studies collections.

Blood Politics: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma

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An Enlightening Examination
Tackling a Sticky Subject

Blood Politics: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma
Circe Dawn Sturm
Manufacturer: University of California Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0520230973

Book Description

Circe Sturm takes a bold and original approach to one of the most highly charged and important issues in the United States today: race and national identity. Focusing on the Oklahoma Cherokee, she examines how Cherokee identity is socially and politically constructed, and how that process is embedded in ideas of blood, color, and race. Not quite a century ago, blood degree varied among Cherokee citizens from full blood to 1/256, but today the range is far greater--from full blood to 1/2048. This trend raises questions about the symbolic significance of blood and the degree to which blood connections can stretch and still carry a sense of legitimacy. It also raises questions about how much racial blending can occur before Cherokees cease to be identified as a distinct people and what danger is posed to Cherokee sovereignty if the federal government continues to identify Cherokees and other Native Americans on a racial basis. Combining contemporary ethnography and ethnohistory, Sturm's sophisticated and insightful analysis probes the intersection of race and national identity, the process of nation formation, and the dangers in linking racial and national identities.

Customer Reviews:

An Enlightening Examination.......2007-07-27

Circe Sturm's "Blood Politics" is a thoughtful look at the factors which go into how the Cherokee people define themselves- as Cherokees, as Indians, as citizens of the Cherokee Nation. Sturm takes on some controversial issues that remain hotbeds of political contention. Particularly on the subject of freedmen, Sturm captures a wide variety of thought.

She is a skilled writer and anthropologist. Some of her writing in her opening was difficult for me to grasp, but this is my fault- not hers. I have a limited background in anthropology, and I am still trying to get my head around the notions of "contradictory consciousness" and "counterhegemonic resistance." Apparently these are standard terms in the academic world of anthropology, but I had to rely on Sturm to point out examples of them in Cherokee culture.

Even if one does not completely follow "Neo-Gramscian Perspectives on Race and Resistance" (a subtitle in her opening), overall the book is easily readable and understandable for the lay person. I came away with a much broader understanding of the concept and power of blood and blood quantum in Cherokee heritage. I also have a better understanding of Cherokee religion, politics, language and social structure.

Sturm includes some stories of her research told in the third person. When she does this, the book reads more like a novel, and I found it to be an entertaining and useful technique in making her point. "Blood Politics" is highly recommended, particularly in light of the recent vote on the status of freedmen in the Cherokee Nation.

Tackling a Sticky Subject.......2002-09-06

Sturm provides thought-provoking insights into tribal indentity and shows how the idea of "race" changes and evolves over time. A variety of perspectives, sometimes quite humorous, into the obsession of blood quantum. Her stories throughout the book are welcome breaks from the sometimes stuffy academic writing. I think she neglects to mention that government documentatin of people's blood quantum is arbitrary and often incorrect, usually placing people's blood quantum lower than it actually is. Sturm also seems inexplicably harsh on the Cherokee Nation and in particular Ross Swimmer. Other than these complaints, this book is a great exploration of varying viewpoints.

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The C herokee Nation in the Civil War.

The Cherokee Nation in the Civil War
Clarissa W. Confer
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

The American Civil War in Indian Territory (Elite)
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ASIN: 0806138033

Book Description

This book offers a broad overview of the war as it affected the Cherokees--a social history of a people plunged into crisis. The Cherokee Nation in the Civil War shows how the Cherokee people, who had only just begun to recover from the ordeal of removal, faced an equally devastating upheaval in the Civil War. Clarissa W. Confer illustrates how the Cherokee Nation, with its sovereign status and distinct culture, had a wartime experience unlike that of any other group of people--and suffered perhaps the greatest losses of land, population, and sovereignty.

No one questions the horrific impact of the Civil War on America, but few realize its effect on American Indians. Residents of Indian Territory found the war especially devastating. Their homeland was beset not only by regular army operations but also by guerillas and bushwhackers. Complicating the situation even further, Cherokee men fought for the Union as well as the Confederacy and created their own "brothers' war."

Customer Reviews:

The C herokee Nation in the Civil War........2007-04-11

The book is well written, and readable. The research is amazing ,scholarly and accurate. We don't offen see Native Americans portrayed that honestly, or thouroughly. Very different from the Hollywood
verison.

Tahlequah and the Cherokee Nation (OK) (Voices of America)

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Tahlequah and the Cherokee Nation (OK) (Voices of America)
Deborah L. Duvall
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Cherokee Nation: A History

ASIN: 0738507822

Book Description

These pages are filled with memories and favorite tales that capture the essence of life in the Cherokee Nation. Ms. Duvall invites the reader to follow the tribe from its pre-historic days in the southeast, to early 20th century life in the Cookson Hills of Oklahoma. ÝÝLearn about Pretty Woman, who had the power over life and death, or the mystical healing springs of Tahlequah. Spend some time with U.S. Deputy Marshals as they roam the old Cherokee Nation in pursuit of Indian Territory outlaws like Zeke Proctor and Charlie Wickliffe, or wander the famous haunted places where ghost horses still travel an ancient trail and the spirits of long-dead Spaniards still search for gold. ÝÝ

Footsteps of the Cherokees: A Guide to the Eastern Homelands of the Cherokee Nation

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A welcome and very highly recommended addition
Super Book for seeing the REAL Cherokee sites
Footsteps of the Cherokee
Actually See the History of the Eastern Cherokees
Essential Reading for Cherokee Indian History

Footsteps of the Cherokees: A Guide to the Eastern Homelands of the Cherokee Nation
Vicki Rozema
Manufacturer: John F. Blair Publisher
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Cherokee Voices: Early Accounts of Cherokee Life in the East (Real Voices, Real History)
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Seven Clans Of The Cherokee Society

ASIN: 0895871335

Book Description

Footsteps of the Cherokees divides the Cherokees' eastern homeland into 19 geographical sections and explores many of the historic Cherokee sites in these areas. Sites range from Moccasin Bend in Chattanooga, inhabited by Cherokees and earlier Indian cultures and considered one of the most important archaeological complexes within a United States city, to the Qualla Boundary, the home of the Eastern Cherokee reservation, where visitors can still experience the historic Cherokee culture. For each site, Rozema gives historical background, directions to the site, and the hours of operation and telephone numbers if the site is located within a park or museum area. The book also includes an overview of Cherokee history that sets the stage for the tours of the historic sites.

The first edition received an Award of Merit from the Tennessee Historical Commission.

Customer Reviews:

A welcome and very highly recommended addition.......2007-08-06

A photographer having a special interest in Cherokee history, Vicki Rozema's "Footsteps Of The Cherokees: A Guide To The Eastern Homelands Of The Cherokee Nation" is a seminal contribution to the growing body of Native American history in general, and the Cherokee Nation in particular. Traveling more than 4,000 miles and investing about 2500 hours visiting, researching, and photographing the sites associated with Cherokee history throughout southeastern United States, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" covers Cherokee farmlands, homes, and sacred sides in North Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and the infamous trek to Oklahoma in 1838 called 'The Trail of Tears', when thousands of Cherokees were forced by the federal government to leave their lands and live on a desolate reservation in an inhospitable western frontier. Some 190 sites are listed and provided with historical perspectives. Enhanced with black-and-white photographs, detailed directions to the sites, their hours of operation, along with entrance fee information, as well as relevant phone numbers, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" is the perfect travel planner and companion. An impressive and original body of work, "Footsteps Of The Cherokees" is a welcome and very highly recommended addition to personal, community, and academic library Native American Studies reference collections.

Super Book for seeing the REAL Cherokee sites.......2002-07-19

We used this book for two years to take prayer walkers to the actual sites of the Cherokee people for prayer and reconciliation in Jesus name. See [URL]. This book was invaluable. We found a lot more sites than she lists, but her book has great directions, history, etc. We met the author for lunch in Knoxville two years ago. She is shy, unassuming, and modest about the great gift she has given to the Cherokee and those who live on their lands today.

Footsteps of the Cherokee.......2001-09-11

A very well written book and very easy to read. Divided into
two parts, the book gives the reader a goodly amount of historical as well as cultural information on the Cherokee Tribe in their Eastern homelands. The second part of the book is a listing of various places in this area that are of historical interest. Not only does Vicki Rozema tell the reader where these places are, but some of the background surrounding them and when available she also includes a picture to help in identifying these sites. As an added feature, the information on business hours and cost to get in is also included.

Vicki Rozema has a good talent for holding the reader's attention, which to me is important. The only thing wrong with this book is that it has now added all these different places I never realized existed before to my itinerary and I don't know if I will be able to get to see them all, but will surely try. The book will definitely go with me when I travel.

Actually See the History of the Eastern Cherokees.......2000-01-14

If you want to do more than just read about the Cherokee indians, this is the book to get! The first part of the book is a historical and cultural overview of the Cherokee indians. The second part of the book gives directions to historical sites and goes into some detail about the history behind the site. It also tells you what there is to see now. I am not aware of another book like this. Keep it in your car when you travel. I really enjoyed this book.

Essential Reading for Cherokee Indian History.......2000-01-14

This book is excellent. It won an Award of Merit from The Tennessee Historical Commission. It is different from other books on the Cherokees because it gives detailed directions to over 190 different sites associated with the Cherokees. Well-organized as well as informative.

Political History of the Cherokee Nation, 1838-1907

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Political History of the Cherokee Nation, 1838-1907
Morris L. Wardell
Manufacturer: University of Oklahoma Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

After the Trail of Tears: The Cherokees' Struggle for Sovereignty, 1839-1880

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One of a kind!
Definitive history

After the Trail of Tears: The Cherokees' Struggle for Sovereignty, 1839-1880
William G. McLoughlin
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807844330

Book Description

This powerful narrative traces the social, cultural, and political history of the Cherokee Nation during the forty-year period after its members were forcibly removed from the southern Appalachians and resettled in what is now Oklahoma. In this master work, completed just before his death, William McLoughlin not only explains how the Cherokees rebuilt their lives and society, but also recounts their fight to govern themselves as a separate nation within the borders of the United States.

Long regarded by whites as one of the 'civilized' tribes, the Cherokees had their own constitution (modeled after that of the United States), elected officials, and legal system. Once re-settled, they attempted to reestablish these institutions and continued their long struggle for self-government under their own laws—an idea that met with bitter opposition from frontier politicians, settlers, ranchers, and business leaders. After an extremely divisive fight within their own nation during the Civil War, Cherokees faced internal political conflicts as well as the destructive impact of an influx of new settlers and the expansion of the railroad. McLoughlin brings the story up to 1880, when the nation's fight for the right to govern itself ended in defeat at the hands of Congress.

Customer Reviews:

One of a kind!.......2003-09-12

This book, as far as I know, is the only one that explores the fascinating history of the Cherokees after they reached Oklohoma. We all know of the 'trail of tears' where the cherokees were removed from Georgia and forced to march to Oklohoma. This book tells the great story of their attempts ot civilize the land. How they built homes how they bought slaves and how they fought with neighbooring indians(who looked like savages to the new americanized Cherokee). The Cherokees fought in the civil war and even fought civil wars among themselves. This book details the hatred of the pure blood cherokees for their brethen who seemed more white and scottish then the others. The cherokee nation then was oborbed into the state of oklohoma when the Indian territory was aboloshed. This is an extraordinary tail of a hitherto unknown american story about one of americas most talked about, but seldom understood and studied, indian tribes, the noble civilized cultured Cherokee(who so many people claim to be descended from that a modern Indian joke goes "what do you get when you have 40 Cherokees in one room? One full blooded Indian").

Definitive history.......1998-10-09

The continuing story of the Cherokees after their arrival in present day Oklahoma. A story of the conflicts both within and outside of the Cherokee Nation. The story of how the Cherokees battled to maintain their sovereignty and ultimately failed. Meticulously researched by McLoughlin through primary sources, an excellent history for anyone interested in Native American or Cherokee history. An typical example of what happened to all tribes in America.

A Law of Blood: The Primitive Law of the Cherokee Nation

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A Law of Blood: The Primitive Law of the Cherokee Nation
John Phillip Reid
Manufacturer: Northern Illinois University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Brabbling Women: Disorderly Speech and the Law in Early Virginia

ASIN: 0875806082

Book Description

John Phillip Reid is widely known for his groundbreaking work in American legal history. A Law of Blood, first published in the early 1970s, led the way in an additional newly emerging academic field: American Indian history. As the field has flourished, this book has remained an authoritative text. Indeed, Gordon Morris Bakken writes in the foreword to this edition that Reid's original study "shaped scholarship and inquiry for decades."

Book Description

This work explores the dynamic issues of race and religion within the Cherokee Nation and to look at the role of secret societies in shaping these forces during the nineteenth century.

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