A Tearful March
This 1,000 mile journey from various eastern locations to the west took place from 1831-1838. The Indian Removal act, passed by Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, forced the “Five Civilized Tribes” along with many others to relocate into the west. This journey would eventually lead to the deaths of thousands of men, women and children. Although the exact number of deaths of the Native Americans is not known, it is globally accepted that over 5,000 Indians were killed by bitter cold, murder and rape, but most of all disease and sickness. This traumatizing event scarred all involved, both the Indians and their oppressors.