Explain Supreme Court case Worcester v. Georgia, what was the case about ? What was the outcome of their decision? How did Jackson respond to the decision? What was the effect on the native Americans
Worcester v. Georgia was a landmark Supreme Court case that occurred in 1832. The case revolves around the dispute between the State of Georgia and the Cherokee Nation over the ownership and governance of Cherokee lands in the state.
The Cherokee Nation was a sovereign Indian nation residing in the southeastern United States, including present-day Georgia. In an effort to expand its territory and remove Native Americans from the region, Georgia passed laws asserting authority over Cherokee lands. These laws prohibited non-Native Americans from residing in Cherokee territory without a state license. The laws were aimed at Samuel Worcester and others, who were missionaries living within Cherokee land without obtaining the licenses required by Georgia law.
Worcester, a missionary, and other non-Native Americans were arrested for violating the state laws. They were tried and convicted in state court. However, they appealed their case to the Supreme Court, arguing that Georgia's laws violated the Constitution, specifically the Supremacy Clause, which states that federal law takes precedence over state law.
In their decision, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Worcester and the Cherokee Nation. Chief Justice John Marshall delivered the opinion, asserting that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity with certain rights to self-governance and territorial control. Marshall concluded that Georgia's laws ultimately violated these constitutional rights of the Cherokee people.
The outcome of the decision was that the Supreme Court ruled against Georgia and in favor of the Native Americans. The Court invalidated Georgia's laws and recognized the Cherokee Nation's sovereignty and rights within its territories.
President Andrew Jackson, however, was not supportive of the Supreme Court's decision. He reportedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it." Jackson disagreed with the ruling and is believed to have disregarded it. The President's response is often interpreted as a reflection of his policy to forcibly remove Native Americans from their lands, which eventually led to the infamous Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.
The effect on Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee Nation, was devastating. Despite the Supreme Court's ruling, Georgia and the federal government, under Jackson's leadership, continued their efforts to remove the Cherokee from their lands. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was ultimately enforced, leading to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, including the Cherokee, to lands west of the Mississippi River. This journey, known as the Trail of Tears, resulted in the deaths of thousands of Native Americans due to disease, exposure, and violence.