Native Americans in Georgia Part I

1. Native Americans in GeorgiaPart I SS8H5 – The student will explain the significant factors that affected the development of Georgia as part of the growth of the United States between 1789 and 1840. d. Analyze the events that led to the removal of the Creeks and Cherokees; including the roles of Alexander McGillivray, William McIntosh, Sequoyah, John Ross, Dahlonega Gold Rush, Worcester v. Georgia, Andrew Jackson, John Marshall, and the Trail of Tears.

2. EQ: What people and events were involved in the removal of Creeks?

3. Early History • As early as 1763, the Creek Indians made treaties to cede land. • In 1783, when the United States was formed, the U.S. government recognized the Oconee River as the unofficial boundary between the Creek Indians and the white Georgians.

4. Where did the Native Americans go? • Before the American Revolution, many Native Americans went heavily into debt from dealing with shrewd white traders. To settle these debts, the Cherokees and Creeks ceded more than 2 million acres of land in 1773. • As more white settlers moved in, pressure was placed on the tribes to move further west.

5. Alexander McGillivray was the son of a Scottish trader and Creek mother. He studied Greek and Latin in Charleston, and he, like his father, was a loyalist during the American Revolution. After the war, he confiscated his father’s Creek land, and became a powerful leader.

6. The Oconee War (between Creeks and settlers) Many white settlers were not content with staying on land east of the Oconee River, and many Creeks refused to leave the land in question. Creeks burned houses, stole cattle, killed or captured settlers some Georgia settlers killed Creeks These skirmishes and attacks between Creeks and Georgia settlers became known as the Oconee War. Creek Chief Alexander McGillivray, met with then-president George Washington in New York, and signed the Treaty of New York in 1790.

7. The Treaty of New York firmly established the Oconee River as the official boundary between the Creeks and the whites. • The Creeks agreed not to move into white controlled territory, and the American government gave the Creeks permission to punish white settlers who moved west of the Oconee River.

8. What do you think? • After the Indians cede the land, how should it be distributed? • Sell it? (what are the benefits?) • Give it away? (what are the benefits?)

9. The Headright System • Under the headright system, each “head” of household had a “right” to a certain amount of land. • The head of a family was entitled to 200 acres of unclaimed land. • 50 additional acres were granted for each family member and slave. • Up to 1000 acres could be held by one family.

10. Plats • A plat is a map of a land lot. • Plats of the headright days show that properties were a mix of irregular shapes. • Who determined the shape of a headright’s land?

11. Headright Land • Outline and shade the headright land on your map.