What Laws Did The Cherokee Have?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The Cherokee constitution provided for

a two-house legislature

, called the General Council, a principal chief, and eight district courts. It also declared all Cherokee lands to be tribal property, which only the General Council could give up.

What kind of government did the Cherokee tribe have?

Each Cherokee village had two governments:

a white government

which governed when the village was at peace, and a red government which governed during times of war.

What were the Cherokee laws?

The laws annexed large tracts of Cherokee territory to various Georgia counties;

outlawed meetings of the Cherokee legislature, declaring all of its acts null and void

; required the Cherokee to obey the laws of Georgia; prohibited Native Americans from testifying against whites in court; provided severe punishment to …

What was the law that made the Cherokee move?


The Indian Removal Act

was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, authorizing the president to grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy.

What were the Cherokee traditions?

With the United Ketoowah Band of about I5,000, the Cherokees form the second largest in the United States. Today, the Eastern Cherokee maintain traditions of

music, storytelling, dance, foodways, carving, basket-making, headwork, pottery, blowgun-making, flint-knapping, and more

.

Who was the most famous Cherokee Indian?

  • Sequoyah (1767–1843), leader and inventor of the Cherokee writing system that took the tribe from an illiterate group to one of the best educated peoples in the country during the early-to-mid 1800s.
  • Will Rogers (1879–1935), famed journalist and entertainer.
  • Joseph J.

What are the 3 Cherokee tribes?

There are only three federally recognized Cherokee tribes in the U.S. –

the Cherokee Nation and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians

, both in Tahlequah, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina.

How much money do you get for being Cherokee Indian?

A Cherokee born today would stand to receive

at least $168,000 when

he or she turns 18. The tribe pays for financial training classes for both high school students and adults. It is not a requirement that tribal members drawing checks live on the reservation, though approximately 10,000 do.

How do I prove my Cherokee heritage?

The tribe will send your information to the Bureau of Indian Affairs which will issue you a

Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood

that certifies your Cherokee tribe affiliation and blood quantum. This certification, otherwise known as a white card, proves Cherokee ancestry.

What do the Cherokee believe in?

They believed

the world should have balance, harmony, cooperation, and respect within the community

and between people and the rest of nature. Cherokee myths and legends taught the lessons and practices necessary to maintain natural balance, harmony, and health.

Why was the Cherokee forced to move?

The removal of the Cherokees was

a product of the demand for arable land during the rampant growth of cotton agriculture in the Southeast

, the discovery of gold on Cherokee land, and the racial prejudice that many white southerners harbored toward American Indians.

How did Cherokees attempt to keep their land?

The Cherokee generally attempted

to resist removal by the United States through negotiations and legal proceedings

. In 1825, the Cherokee established a capital in Georgia, created a written constitution, and declared themselves a sovereign nation.

How has the United States tried to improve its relationship with the Cherokee?

How has the United States tried to improve its relationship with the Cherokee?

The United States government has passed laws allowing Cherokee tribes to govern themselves

. It also provides special programs and services to “federally recognized” tribes.

What did the Cherokee invent?

Fun Facts about the Cherokee

Sequoyah was a famous Cherokee who invented

a writing system and alphabet for the Cherokee language

. Cherokee art included painted baskets, decorated pots, carvings in wood, carved pipes, and beadwork.

What did the Cherokee do with their dead?


The personal belongings of the deceased were either buried with him or burned at the grave site

. Food and furniture were smashed and thrown away. As soon as the corpse was buried, a priest was sent for to ritually cleanse the house.

What tribes did the Cherokee interact with?

The Cherokee Indians traded regularly with other southeastern Native Americans, who especially liked to make trades for high-quality Cherokee pipes and pottery. The Cherokees often fought with their neighbors

the Creeks, Chickasaws, and Shawnees

, but other times, they were friends and allies of those tribes.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.