Cherokee Memorials In American History

“The Cherokee Memorials” represents what was politically going on during the time period of the early 1800s. “The Memorials” are the Cherokee nation’s version of the Declaration of Independence, but instead of declaring independence and stating a new nation, the Cherokee are reminding the United States they are a separate sovereign nation and cannot be forced to leave their lands without signed consent (361). By asserting this, the Cherokees hope to show Congress the state of Georgia has no valid argument in ordering their removal; in fact, the Cherokee state several reasons why they should not be removed, particularly regarding their history with the United States. The Cherokee discuss instances when the United States referred to the Cherokee as being their own nation. On page 363, …show more content…
In an excerpt from the Cherokee Phoenix, Boudinot states, “Sufficient and repeated evidence has been given, that Indians can be reclaimed from a savage state, and that with proper advantages, they are as capable of improvement in mind as any other people” (360). This statement is supported by advancements made by the Indians. They showed how they were incorporating American culture into their own by not only changing their names, but by also starting their own newspaper. Boudinot continues on to say, “…that this improvement can be made, not only by the Cherokees, but by all the Indians, in their present locations” (360). Boudinot emphasizes this point, stating that not only his people, but all people can learn to adapt to the American ways of life without having to be moved from their land. Though Boudinot changed his view of the removal of the Cherokee, his original writings helped alongside “The Memorials” in supporting the viewpoints of the Cherokee