Trail of Tears Episode 2: Rinse and Repeat
What happens when years of broken treaties, stolen land, and political pressure finally turn into forced removal?
In this episode of Torture: A Dark History, Kevin Young and Dan Hourigan continue their journey through the history of the Trail of Tears, following the rise of Andrew Jackson, the Creek War, the growing pressure on the Five Civilized Tribes, and the discovery of gold on Cherokee land.
We’ll meet Major Ridge, John Ross, John Ridge, Elias Boudinot, and Sequoyah, and explore the Cherokee Nation’s remarkable efforts to build a government, establish a written language, publish a newspaper, and prove that they were a sovereign nation capable of governing themselves.
Then everything starts to unravel. Georgia begins dismantling Cherokee sovereignty, white settlers flood Cherokee territory in search of gold, and Andrew Jackson takes office with Native removal becoming a central part of his administration. The passage of the Indian Removal Act marks a major turning point, followed by the first large scale removals, including the devastating journey of the Choctaw.
And while the story is filled with treaties, politics, and courtroom battles, there was plenty of violence happening on the ground as well. Native nations were divided over how to respond, settlers continued pushing onto Indigenous land, and tensions were rapidly reaching a breaking point.
Kevin and Dan bring their usual irreverent humor to a story that is becoming increasingly difficult to laugh about.
If you’re interested in the Trail of Tears, Andrew Jackson, Cherokee history, Choctaw history, Indian Removal, Sequoyah, Major Ridge, John Ross, Native American history, and the darker side of American history, this is where the story really begins to turn.
And Part 3 is where everything falls apart.
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