Trail of Tears Commemoration Day

National Trail of Tears Commemoration Day is an American day of remembrance dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. This is a dark page in US history. Thousands of native Americans were forced to leave their villages and go to live on poor lands allocated by the government. Celebrated 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 the representatives 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 country without even taking all the necessary things with them. Most of the Indians died on the way from disease, hunger and cold. The event was called the “Trail of Tears” – it fully reflects the essence of what happened and still responds with pain to 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 representatives of the indigenous population of America 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 Indian lands.

How to celebrate

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

Share the 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 celebrated in 2022?

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

Observations