How an Oklahoma Town Became the Cherokee Nation’s Capital After the Deadly Trail of Tears

Tahlequah, Oklahoma

TBack in 1839, Cherokee families who had just endured one of America’s darkest chapters needed a fresh start.

They chose a spot in eastern Oklahoma and called it Tahlequah, making it their nation’s capital after being forced from their ancestral homes.

Here’s how this town became the beating heart of Cherokee resilience.

Forced Removal Under the Indian Removal Act

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 gave the government power to relocate Native American tribes from the Southeast. Cherokee people fought back through the courts, winning the Supreme Court case Worcester v. Georgia in 1832.

President Jackson ignored this ruling that would have protected Cherokee lands. Without proper approval from the Cherokee National Council, a small group of leaders signed the 1835 Treaty of New Echota.

Despite 16,000 Cherokee signing petitions against it, the government moved forward with removal.

The Tragic Journey West

In May 1838, General Winfield Scott led soldiers to force Cherokee families from their homes at gunpoint. Around 16,000 Cherokee people were made to leave their ancestral lands in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, and Tennessee.

The Cherokee traveled in 17 separate groups on both land and water routes.

Their journey stretched over 5,045 miles through nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee.

Conditions During the Removal

Cherokee people faced harsh conditions on their forced march west. Many groups dealt with bad weather, not enough food, and widespread sickness. The winter of 1838-1839 was especially brutal for those traveling the northern route through Illinois.

Before the journey, soldiers kept many Cherokee in crowded camps for weeks. Poor sanitation and dirty water in these camps caused diseases to spread quickly among the people waiting to be moved.

The Death Toll of the Trail of Tears

About 4,000 Cherokee died during the westward journey from hunger, exhaustion, cold, and disease, about one-fifth of the entire Cherokee population. The youngest and oldest suffered most.

Babies, small children, and elderly tribal members died at higher rates during the forced march. A Choctaw chief, whose tribe faced similar removal, called this tragic journey “A Trail of Tears and Deaths,” giving the event its lasting name in history.

Arrival in Indian Territory

The last Cherokee groups reached Indian Territory on March 24, 1839, after starting their journey in September 1838. Most settled near the Illinois River east of what would become Tahlequah.

Groups traveling by water arrived at several places: Mrs. Webber’s plantation, Fort Coffee, Lee’s Creek near today’s Stilwell, and Illinois Campground near Tahlequah.

These locations served as temporary homes while the Cherokee planned their new community.

Establishing a New Capital

Cherokee leaders chose Tahlequah as their new capital in 1839, building on Cherokee council grounds. They officially mapped out the 160-acre town site in 1843.

The first buildings included a government complex of log and frame structures around a central square, and Tahlequah grew quickly beyond just government buildings.

The Cherokee built schools, businesses, and churches, creating a strong community in their new home.

The Cherokee Nation Constitution

Cherokee leaders approved their new Constitution in Tahlequah on September 6, 1839. This document helped heal divisions caused by disagreements over the Treaty of New Echota.

Based on their earlier 1827 Constitution from their eastern homeland, the Cherokee created a democratic government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches similar to the United States.

Building a New Cherokee Society

By 1842, Tahlequah had grown into a busy town with four stores. The Cherokee Supreme Court building was finished in 1844, the same year the Cherokee Advocate newspaper began printing in both English and Cherokee.

Education remained important, with Cherokee Male and Female schools opening in 1851. A brick Capitol building, completed in 1869, replaced earlier wooden structures destroyed during the Civil War.

Legacy of Political Division

The Treaty of New Echota created deep wounds in the Cherokee Nation. Bitter fights over the treaty led to violence, including the murders of treaty signers Major Ridge, his son John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot.

When signing, Major Ridge reportedly said, “I have signed my death warrant.” Only treaty signer Stand Watie escaped being killed.

Despite these conflicts, the Cherokee rebuilt their nation under Chief John Ross, who had opposed removal but guided his people through the crisis.

Preserving Cherokee Heritage

Today, the original Cherokee National Capitol building houses the Cherokee National History Museum in downtown Tahlequah.

The Cherokee Heritage Center tells the story of the Trail of Tears and shows how Cherokee communities lived in different time periods.

The Cherokee National Supreme Court Museum, built in 1844, stands as Oklahoma’s oldest government building. Each Labor Day weekend, the Cherokee National Holiday celebrates the 1839 Constitution and honors Cherokee culture.

Visiting Tahlequah, Oklahoma

You’ll find most Cherokee Nation attractions in downtown Tahlequah at 101 S. Muskogee Avenue, Oklahoma.

The Cherokee National History Museum, Supreme Court Museum, and Prison Museum all offer free admission and operate Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Cherokee Heritage Center, located at 21192 S. Keeler Drive, showcases the Ancient Village with living history demonstrations during summer months.

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