John Ross, Cherokee Chief

by Gary E. Moulton

In John Ross, Cherokee Chief, Gary Moulton examines the life of the man who led the Cherokee people during the most trying and tragic period of their long history. Ross was the principal Cherokee negotiator with the encroaching whites during the Georgia gold rush, guided the tribe through the treacherous years of the Civil War, and struggled to preserve unity among his people during their removal westward by the United States government, along the “Trail of Tears.”

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

282 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 1978

Reviews

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a thorough review of dozens of primary and secondary sources Moulton develops a comprehensive study of this most famous Cherokee leader during what was a momentous and very tumultuous time in the mid 19th century. There is a lot of detailed description of Ross’ untiring efforts to protect and preserve the sovereignty of his people leading up to, during, and after their forced removal in 1838 from their ancestral homelands in the southeastern USA. But its nuanced discussion and largely direct prose make JRCC an engaging read. The book also provides some maps, a few photos, and timely quotations from Ross and others, all of which adds to its appeal.

To the author’s credit this is not an idealized portrayal. At the end of some of the chapters he comments on how Ross’ decision making and/or leadership style may have exacerbated what were extremely challenging circumstances facing the Cherokees. In a final concluding chapter entitled In Retrospect he describes at some length the Chief’s strengths and weaknesses.

Moulton discloses in the Preface that not much information was available about Ross’ personal life. Even if it had been speculative I wish he had shared more observations about two things. First, Ross’ Cherokee heritage was based on one of his great grandparents. Why did this man who was only 1/8 Cherokee identify so strongly with and fight so courageously for the rights of these people? Second, Ross’ first wife and his business activities outside of his official life as chief were hardly mentioned at all in the narrative.

The author notes that some of the mixed blood Cherokees, including Ross, were slaveholders before the Civil War but he gives minimal attention to this. Perhaps this is because little scholarship existed on the issue of slaveholding of African Americans by Native Americans at the time this book was published in 1978. But it would have been interesting and, hopefully, informative had he offered some opinions about what it might have been like for the leader of an oppressed people to own slaves.

Finally, the age of the book was apparent in one other, admittedly minor way: on a few occasions Moulton described the full blooded Cherokees as ‘primitive.’ I doubt this type of language would be used nowadays.

Overall, I would recommend JRCC for those looking for a thorough, well written, and balanced depiction of John Ross. Another book published in 2015 on Ross and President Andrew Jackson is Jacksonland by NPR journalist Steve Inskeep. For those wanting a more general introduction to the history of the interactions between the Cherokee and the EuroAmerican colonists leading up to and through the Revolutionary War I would recommend Divided Paths by Tom Hatley. Unworthy Republic by Claudio Saunt is a broad discussion of the policy of removal in the 1830’s as it affected many of the Native American nations. Finally, for anyone interested in learning how the Creek nation tried to deal with this experience I would recommend The Politics of Forced Removap by Michael Green.

Addendum: a friend who is a professor of Native American Studies has confirmed that there was little research on slavery as practiced by Native Americans in the years leading up to the publication of this book in 1978.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye-opening and engaging example of the failure of the Federal Government to protect and respect America's native people. Impressively researched, this biography of Cherokee chief John Ross covers all aspects of his character, both his achievements and his weaknesses, while focusing on his unending struggle to unify and better the lives of his people. From the early 19th century, through the tribe's devastating Trail of Tears removal to Oklahoma from their ancestral lands, up to and beyond the internal tribal divisions and deep animosities brought on by the American Civil War, Ross persistently battled the U.S. Federal government to ensure the fulfillment of treaty obligations and allotted compensation for the loss of Cherokee land.