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The boundaries of the Cherokee Country prior to the European invasion. |
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The boundaries of the Cherokee Country at the end of the Revolutionary War. |
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The boundaries of the Cherokee Country in the east prior to the removal. It should be noted that before
the removal, much of the Nation was overrun by whites who had taken over Vann's house at Springplace, Major Ridge's house
(Rome GA), and Chief John Ross's house (Rossville GA). The Cherokee council had been meeting at Red Clay on the Tennesse border
because the State of Georgia was using the Georgia Militia to prevent them from meeting at the capital at New Echota. Lands
in Georgia had already been granted to white lottery winners in the Georgia Land and Gold Lotteries. |
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A large group of Cherokees moved west of the Mississippi (Spanish territory) with the permission of
the Spanish govenor in New Orleans. Groups continued to move west to escape the flood of white settlers onto Cherokee land
in NC, GA, and TN. |
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Cherokees who had been moving west since before 1800 were joined by an ongoing migration from the
original Nation in the East. A large number of Cherokees had moved into the Arkansas Territory and settled on either side
of the Arkansas River between present Ft Smith and Russellville AR. Most of the Cherokees already living around the "bootheel"
of Missouri had moved to this area also. The boundaries were established by treaty with the US in 1817. Most the the settlements
were along either side of the Arkansas River (the southern boundary) and the White River (the northern boundary). The Arkansas
Cherokee (aka Western Cherokee or Old Settlers) were forced to move again in 1828 to what is now Northeastern Oklahoma. |
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The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma showing boundaries and districts at the time of Oklahoma statehood
- 1907. |
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The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma |
