TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 A Grab for Land CHAPTER 2 The Indian Removal Act CHAPTER 3 Losing Land VOICES FROM THE PAST John Ross CHAPTER 4 The Trail of Tears Focus on the Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears Glossary To Learn More Index
CHAPTER 1 A GRAB FOR LAND After the United States gained its independence from Great Britain the young nation was eager to expand Many US citizens wanted land they could settle and farm Some moved west beyond the Appalachian Mountains Others moved to Georgia and other parts of the American South These areas had rich farmland Hundreds of American Indian tribes lived in North America long before the United States existed 5
Thousands of Seminoles lived in Florida during the late 1700s and early 1800s During the late 1700s settlers rushed to claim the land as their own But the land was not empty American Indian nations had lived there for many years They included the Cherokees Creeks Choctaws Chickasaws and Seminoles The settlers tried to force these American Indian nations off the 6
