The People and Culture of the Cherokee

Book excerpt: The people of the Cherokee Nation were descendants of the first Native Americans to live in North America. Over time, they developed their own culture, identity, language, beliefs, and customs. However, their lifestyles became threatened with the arrival of Europeans. By the 1830s, many people living in the United States wanted Native Americans moved onto reservations. One of the most difficult experiences for the Cherokee Nation was the forced removal of the Cherokee from their lands to Oklahoma. This was called the Trail of Tears. In this book, the history of the Cherokee people is told, from their earliest days to hardships during the nineteenth century, to how they have endured in the modern age.