Study Guide Questions s1

Trail of Tears virtual trip Log

Directions: visit each of the websites listed below and record your thoughts and responses.

1.  What does this map of the United States[1] illustrate?

2.  Manifest Destiny Inquiry – original found on http://www.museumca.org/goldrush/curriculum/8g/81104021.html#MANIFEST

John Quincy Adams, sixth president of the United States (1825-1829), wrote in 1811:

"The whole continent appears to be destined...to be peopled by one nation. The acquisition of a definite line of boundary to the [Pacific] forms a great epoch in our history."

In 1845, John O'Sullivan, a New Yorker and editor of the United States Magazine and Democratic Review, wrote:

"Away, away with all these cobweb tissues of rights of discovery, exploration, settlement, contiguity, etc. The American claim is by the right of our manifest destiny to overspread and to possess the whole of the continent which Providence has given us for the development of the great experiment of liberty and federative self-government entrusted to us. It is a right such as that of the tree to the space of air and earth suitable for the full expansion of its principle and destiny of growth. ...It is in our future far more than in the past history of Spanish exploration or French colonial rights, that our True Title is to be found."

3.  Now use the dictionary[2] to define these words as they are used in the above passage, and see how close you came to that meaning.

manifest______

destiny______

4.  What do you think Adams and O'Sullivan were saying about the expansion of the United States to the Pacific Ocean?

Adams -

O'Sullivan -

Did they agree or not? Why?

5.  Briefly describe the purpose of the Indian Removal Act 1830[3] –

6.  Use the following sites to determine why the Cherokee were forced to move.

(you can also view this satire commercial[4] for ideas)

7.  Look at this map of the Trail[8]. How many states does the Trail cross? ______

Use the map scale to estimate how many miles the Cherokee traveled by foot. ______

Those who began walking in November arrived to their new land by March.
Approximately how many miles did they travel each day?

8.  Walk the Trail with Samuel and “hear:” his story[9]:

9. Based on Samuel’s memory, record at least 4 specific things that happened on the Trail of Tears that he experienced.

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10. What do you think would be some of the possible long-term effects of this action on the Cherokee people? List at least 4.

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11. Looking at these images. Painting #1[10] and Painting #2[11] and image #3[12]
List at least 5 things that these images show about the Trail of Tears experience.

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12. Meet some more people along the Trail and listen to their stories.
Go to the Digital History[13] site for personal stories OR read the story of Pvt. John G. Burnett[14].

Read at least 2 personal stories and answer the questions below.

13. The United States Constitution states,

“We hold these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness..."

Consider that Andrew Jackson was President during the Removal of

70,000 -100,000 Native Americans from their homelands. Explain how President Jackson upheld this ideal of “all men being equal?”

14. Read President Jackson’s Message to Congress on Indian Policy.

a.  Do you think the reason stated for the removal of the Indians was sufficient? Just (fair)? Explain.

b.  Consider the compensation given to the Indians for their land. Would you have provided similar compensation or made other choices? Explain.

15. Listen to this discussion[15]. Was President Jackson to blame for the Trail of Tears?

16. Is it appropriate that he is honored on the $20 bill? Justify your response with at least two reasons of support.

17. Who would you place on the US $20 bill, instead of Andrew Jackson. Why?
(Give at least two reasons for support)

SO…..

Trail of Tears R.A.F.T.

Role – You are a Cherokee Indian who has just arrived in Oklahoma after traveling the Trail of Tears.

Audience – choose from one of the following:

1.  family/friends who stayed in North Carolina or Georgia

2.  president Andrew Jackson/ US government

3.  a relative who will be alive in the future

Format– You will create a postcard that measures 5 inches x 7 inches.
Use unlined paper.

On the front: create a color image/illustration (you can hand draw or cut and paste) that appropriately

represents the Trail of Tears

On the back: write a message
(see the Topic below for details),
include a stamp (find a stamp that matches the theme)
and correctly address the postcard.

Topic – write an appropriate message on the postcard. Include in the message a minimum of 3 facts you learned on this field trip. Also include a personal sentiment. This would be a heartfelt thought. Write something other than “I was sad to leave” or “I miss our home”. Take a moment to think and be creative.

Rubric

RUBRIC = Trail of Tears R.A.F.T.

Points earned ______/ 27

Page 8 of 9

[1] http://www.ac.wwu.edu/~stephan/48states.html

[2] http://www.dictionary.com/

[3] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Removal

[4] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx8TOuVhtE8&feature=related

[5] http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/video/video_pop.html?id=21&KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=335&width=500

[6] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html

[7] http://ngeorgia.com/history/goldrush.html

[8] http://www.cherokeemuseum.org/html/collections_tot.html

[9] http://www.cherokeehistory.com/samuel.html

[10] http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4h1567b.html

[11] http://www.maxdstandley.com/giclees/i/the_trail_of_tears.jpg

[12] http://www.nativepeoples.com/article/content_images/0906trail.jpg

[13] http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/learning_history/indian_removal/human_meaning.cfm

[14] http://freepages.nostalgia.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~grundyconnections/tears.html

[15] http://www.pbs.org/kcet/andrewjackson/video/video_pop.html?id=22&KeepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=335&width=500