5th Grade History & Social Studies — Westward Expansion — America Grows Under Providence
Students will learn about the forced removal of Native Americans and understand the importance of justice and mercy as taught in Scripture.
As America expanded westward, not every chapter of the story was a happy one. In the 1830s, the United States government forced many Native American tribes — including the Cherokee, Choctaw, Creek, Chickasaw, and Seminole — to leave their homelands in the southeastern states.
President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which required these tribes to move to territory west of the Mississippi River, in what is now Oklahoma. Many Americans, including the great Senator Davy Crockett, spoke out against this injustice.
The Cherokee people called their forced march the 'Trail of Tears' because of the terrible suffering they endured. Thousands died from cold, disease, and hunger during the journey. It was a tragic event that reminds us of the importance of treating all people with justice and mercy.
Many Christian missionaries had worked with these tribes and protested the removal. They knew that God's Word teaches us to love our neighbors and treat all people fairly, regardless of their background.
This difficult chapter reminds us that even a great nation can make mistakes, and that we must always strive to follow God's commands to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him.
Write a short letter from the perspective of a Cherokee child being forced to leave home. What would you miss most? What would you want people to know about your experience?