Trail of Tears Commemoration Day

National Trail of Tears Commemoration Day is a remembrance dedicated to Native American victims. This is a dark page in US history. Thousands of Native Americans were forced to leave their villages and live on arid lands allocated by the government. It is held on September 16th.

History

The grief of the Native American families, the terrible living conditions, and the lack of a normal life – all this became a real tragedy that began on May 28, 1830. President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act. His goal was simple – to allow the state to occupy the lands that had long belonged to the Cherokee and other Indian tribes. Numerous bloody skirmishes began – many did not want to leave their villages in which their ancestors lived.

Attempts to sign a peace agreement with the Cherokee tribe were unsuccessful. In 1836, the state of Georgia severely restricted the rights of this tribe. From the following year, active confrontations began, as a result of which the Cherokee and many other Native Americans were left without a home and were forced to leave the land without even taking all the essential things with them. Most of them died on the way from disease, hunger, and cold. This event was called the ‘Trail of Tears’ – it fully reflects the essence of what happened and still conveys the pain of many Americans who have Native American roots.

Interesting facts

• During the persecution of the Indians and the seizure of their lands by Europeans, more than 10 million indigenous people died.
• It was only in 1850 that the Indian Administration and Protection Act was created, which was designed to improve relations between whites and the indigenous population.
• In 2009, the US Congress issued a statement apologizing for the many casualties during the development of former Indian lands.

How to take part

Visit a museum on National Trail of Tears Commemoration Day and listen to lectures to learn more about this terrible event. Watch documentaries on the dark side of US history.

Share a post on social media expressing your regret about what happened. This must not be forgotten, otherwise it will happen again.

When is Trail of Tears Commemoration Day in 2024?

Trail of Tears Commemoration Day is observed on September 16 each year.

Observations