History of the Cherokee
1721 - The Cherokee Treaty with the Governor of the Carolinas is thought
to be the first consession of land.
1785 - Treaty of Hopewell is the first treaty between the U.S. and the
Cherokees.
1791 - Treaty of Holston signed. Includes a call for the U.S. to advance
civilization of the Cherokees by giving them farm tools and technical
advice.
1802 - Jefferson signs Goergia Compact.
1817 - Treaty makes exchange for land in Arkansas. Old settlers begin
voluntary migration and establish a government there. In 1828, they are
forced to move into Indian territory.
1821 - Sequoyah's Cherokee Syllabary completed, quickly leads to almost
total literacy among the Cherokees.
1822 - Cherokee's Supreme Court established.
1824 - First written law of Western Cherokees.
1825 - New Echota, GA authorized as Cherokee capital.
1827 - Modern Cherokee Nation begins with Cherokee Constitution
established by a convention; John Ross elected chief.
1828 - Cherokee Phoenix published in English and Cherokee; Andrew
Jackson elected President. Gold discovered in Georgia.
1828-1830 - Georgia Legislature abolishes tribal government and expands
authority over Cherokee country.
1832 - US Supreme Court decision Worcester vs Georgia establishes tribal
sovereignty, protects Cherokees from Georgia laws. Jackson won't enforce
decision and Georgia holds lottery for Cherokee lands.
1835 - Treaty Party signs Treaty of New Echota, giving up title to all
Cherokee lands in southeast in exchange for land in Indian Territory
(now Oklahoma.).
1838-1839 - Trails of Tears. US Government's forced removal of 17,000
Cherokees, in defiance of Supreme Court decision. More than 4,000 die
from exposure and disease along the way.
1839 - Assassination of Treaty Party leaders, Major Ridge, John Ridge,
and Elias Boudinot for breaking pact not to sign Treaty of New Echota.
Factionalism continues until 1846. New constitution ratified at
convention uniting Cherokees arriving from the east with those in the
west.
1844 Cherokee Supreme Court building opens; Cherokee Advocate becomes
the first newspaper in Indian territory.
1851 - Cherokee male and female seminaries open. Female seminary is the
first secondary school for girls west of the Mississippi.
1859 - Original Keetoowah Society organized to maintain traditions and
fight slavery.
1860 - Tension mounts between Union Cherokees and Confederate Cherokees.
Civil War begins.
1861 - Treaty signed at Park Hill between Cherokee Nation and the
Confederate government. Cherokee Nation torn by border warfare
throughout the Civil War.
1865-1866 - Cherokee must negotiate peace with the US Government. New
treaty limits tribal land rights, eliminates possibility of Cherokee
State and is prelude to Dawes Commission. John Ross dies.
1887 - General Allotment Act passed; requires individual ownership of
lands once held in common by Indian tribes.
1889 - Unassigned lands in Indian Territory opened by white settlers
known as "boomers."
1890 - Oklahoma Territory organized out of western half of Indian
Territory.
1893 - Cherokee Outlet opened for white settlers.Dawes Commission
arrives.
1898 - Curtis Act passed abolishing tribal courts.
1903 - W.C. Rogers becomes last elected chief for 69 years.
1905 - Land allotment begins after official roll taken of Cherokees.
1907 - Oklahoma statehood combines Indian and Oklahoma Territories and
dissolves tribal government.
1917 - William C. Rogers, the last Cherokee Chief, dies.
1934 - Indian Reorganization Act established a landbase for tribes and
legal structure for self government.
1948 - Chief J.B.Milam calls Cherokee Convention; beginning of model
tribal government of the Cherokee Nation.
1949 - W.W. Bill Keeler appointed chief by President Harry Truman.
1957 - First Cherokee National Holiday.
1961 - Cherokees awarded 15 million dollars by the US Claims Commission
for Cherokee Outlet Lands.
1963 - Cherokee National Historical Society founded. CNHS opens Ancient
Village, 1967; Trail of Tears Drama, 1969, and museum, 1975.
1967 - Cherokee Foundation formed to purchase land on which the tribal
complex now sits.
1970 - U.S. Supreme Court ruling confirms Cherokee Nation ownership of
bed and banks of 96 mile segment of Arkansas Riverbed.
1971 - W.W.Keeler becomes first elected principal chief since statehood.
1975 - Ross O. Swimmer elected to first of three terms as principal
chief. First Cherokee Tribal Council elected Congress passes Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
1976 - Cherokee voters ratify new Constitution outlining tribal
government.
1979 - Tribal offices moved into modern new complex South of Tahlequah.
1984 - First joint council meeting in 146 years between Eastern Band of
Cherokees and Cherokee Nation held at Red Clay, TN. Council meetings now
held bi-annually.
1987 - Wilma Mankiller makes history and draws international attention
to tribe as first woman elected chief; Cherokee voters pass constitution
amendment to elect council by districts in 1991.
1988 - Cherokee Nation joins Eastern Band in Cherokee, NC to commemorate
beginning of The Trail of Tears.
1989 - The Cherokee Nation observes 150th anniversary of arrival in
Indian Territory. "A New Beginning".
1990 - Chief Mankiller signs the historic self-governance agreement,
making the Cherokee Nation one of six tribes to participate in the
self-determination project. The project, which ran for three years
beginning Oct.1 1990, authorized the tribe to assume tribal
responsiblity for BIA funds which were formerly being spent on the
tribe's behalf at the agency, area and central office levels.
1991 - In the July tribal election the first council to be elected by
districts since statehood and Wilma Mankiller won second elected term as
principal chief with a landslide 82% of the votes cast.
1995 - Joe Byrd and Garland Eagle elected principal chief and deputy
chief which marks the first time in nearly 200 years that full blood
bilingual leaders occupy the top positions of the Cherokee Nation.
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