They were also the first Native American tribe to have a written constitution and the first Native American tribe to have a newspaper. And the list goes on and on. The Cherokee is one of the most fascinating Indigenous tribes in the United States of American. The Cherokee managed to assimilate themselves within the US. And yet, they were sent far across the country, exiled from their ancestral homelands. What happened on their journey during the Trail of Tears? What side did they pick when the Civil War exploded onto the scene? Who led them to victory and brutal, brutal defeat? The truth is inside of these pages. Their story is one of the harshest in US history. The Cherokee suffered hardships practically from the moment they were born to the moment they died. From the Trail of Tears to the residential school system, their story is fraught with complications. In this new, exposing, and honest retelling of the Cherokee, you will read about the highs and lows of the Cherokee tribe, including the stories and moments that are often pushed under the rug. -- From back cover.

Ani'-Yun'wiya --Early conflicts with the European settlers -- A time of treaties and compromises -- The assimilation of the Cherokee -- The beginnings of the great removal -- The trail of tears -- An examination of the trail of tears from a modern viewpoint -- Unstable times in Oklahoma -- A brief history of residential schools -- The Cherokee in the 20th and 21st centuries.