In June 1838, the army began to force groups of Cherokees to leave. The second group, which left in October, had to walk for five to seven months during a terribly cold and snowy winter. As many as 4,000 Cherokees died on that journey—known as the Trail of Tears.

This video shows you what happened when the Cherokees were forced to leave their land. As you watch the video, think about why the Cherokees were unable to stop the U.S. government from enforcing the Indian Removal Act against them. Click on the right to watch the video.

After you watch the video, click on the map to see the three trails on which the Cherokees traveled to reach the Indian Territory (now Oklahoma).

What happened to the Cherokees in 1838 after the federal government forced them off of their land?

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