Trail of Tears



The National Hisotric Trail

Since the beginning of this class we have discussed the many unfortunate things that the Native American Indians have been through.  Completely uneducated about most of these events I decided to look further into something I have heard about and become more educated upon the subject- The Trail of Tears.



The Trail of Tears by Robert Lindneux

   The Trail of Tears is a name given to the forced relocation and movement of Native American nations from southeastern parts of the United States following the Indian Removal Act of 1830. They faced hunger,disease and exhaustion. This journey resulted in a loss of over 4,000 of the 15,000 Cherokees. Jefferson hoped to create a dependancy upon trade with white Americans, therefore thinking they would leave the lands in exchange for goods.
Although just just giving a very brief overview of of the Trail of Tears, the manipulation of these people for American selfishness is completely outrageous.   
To help realize what these people went through I found a poem that explains, in detail, the amount of pain and suffering that was encountered during this event. 

The Trail of Tears

I look to the long road behind

My heart is heavy with my people's sorrow

Tears of grief I weep - for all that we have lost

As we march ever farther from the land of our birth

On the Trail of Tears

Mile after mile and day after day

Our people are fewer with each rising sun

Disease and starvation they take their terrible toll

And though we suffer still we march on

On the Trail of Tears

I watch my beloved weaken and fall

Upon the road like so many before

With tears in my eyes I hold my wife to my breast

And in my arms she breathes her last

On the Trail of Tears

Mile after mile and day after day

We march to a land promised us for all time

But I know that I can no longer go on

I know that is a land that I shall never see

On the Trail of Tears

As my body - it falls to embrace the earth

My spirit - it soars to greet the sky

With my dying breath am I finally set free

To begin the very long journey towards home

On the Trail of Tears

Brian Childers

The poem touches the senses and helps to completely submerge ones thoughts into the situation in hopes to relate to the awful tragedy that was forced upon these innocent people. 
I disagree with the awful acts that was put upon them, but the past can no longer be changed, in can only be used to enlighten and help to prevent similar actions from occuring in the future.  The path to prevention is through a path of knowledge. 


Trail of Tears Documentary