what was discovered in north georgia in 1829 that increased the desire of white georgians for cherkee land
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In 1829, gold was discovered in North Georgia, specifically in the Cherokee territory near the towns of Dahlonega and Nacoochee. This discovery greatly increased the desire of white Georgians and settlers to acquire Cherokee land, ultimately leading to the forced removal of the Cherokee people.
The discovery of gold in Georgia’s Cherokee lands in 1829 sparked what is known as the Georgia Gold Rush. The gold was found in the streams and rivers of the Appalachian Mountains, and word quickly spread, causing a rush of prospectors and settlers to move into the area. As a result, there was a sudden surge in demand for the land where the gold was discovered. This heightened interest in the region led to increased pressure on the Cherokee Nation, who were the rightful inhabitants of the land.
At the time, the Cherokee were one of the “Five Civilized Tribes” in the southeastern United States, and they had established a relatively stable society with their own government, schools, and a written constitution. However, the discovery of gold intensified the desire among white settlers and state officials to remove the Cherokee from their land. The Georgia state government, eager to capitalize on the newfound wealth, began passing laws to force the Cherokee off their land.
The discovery of gold played a significant role in the broader context of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which President Andrew Jackson signed into law. The Act provided legal justification for the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. As a result, the Cherokee were subjected to the “Trail of Tears,” a brutal and deadly forced relocation that caused the deaths of thousands of Cherokee people.
In conclusion, the discovery of gold in 1829 in North Georgia was a key event that escalated the white Georgian desire for Cherokee land, ultimately leading to their forced removal under the Indian Removal Act.