The Trail of tears

Georgia The Peach State Established 1788, 4th State

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The Trail of Tears Print this section | E-mail this section Although the Creeks had already lost their lands in Georgia by the late 1820s, the Cherokee tribe still maintained a successful society in northern Georgia. However, the whites’ desire for more land, especially after the 1829 discovery of gold in Georgia’s mountains, led the U.S. government to force the Cherokee from their homes. The Cherokee did not want to leave, but soldiers made them march to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) across the Mississippi River. Thousands of Cherokee died along the way, so the tragic event was named the Trail of Tears.