The Trail of Tears across Missouri (Missouri Heritage Readers)

by Joan Gilbert

As settlers moved beyond the eastern seaboard during the early nineteenth century, the government forced thousands of American Indians from their ancestral lands. The Cherokees, the largest and most important tribe in the Southeast, fought exile with a combination of passive resistance and national publicity for their plight. Because they had successfully resisted the government's efforts to move them from their homeland, their removal was particularly brutal when it finally came. The Trail of Tears across Missouri is a moving account of the 1837-1838 removal of the Cherokees from the southeastern United States to Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). After providing an overview of the Cherokees' life in the Southeast and of the events leading up to their exile, Joan Gilbert traces the mass exodus state by state from Tennessee to Arkansas. Successive chapters highlight the experiences and the hardships endured by those forced to travel with inadequate supplies of food, clothing, and transportation. It is estimated that four thousand Cherokees, nearly a quarter of the tribe, died. In bringing the grim realities of the forced march to life, Gilbert draws from such primary sources as letters, newspaper stories, and the writings of missionaries, guides, and doctors who accompanied them. She focuses on the Cherokees' experiences as they passed through Missouri, using the journals of Dr. W. I. I. Morrow and guide B. B. Cannon. In addition to chronicling the removal of the Cherokees, Gilbert also brings the story up to date by describing how the nation lives today and how the Trail of Tears has been commemorated.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction

136 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1996

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over 20 years old, Joan Gilbert's book is still the best and most straightforward book on the Trail of Tears in Missouri. When this book was published in 1996, it was less than ten years since the centennial of the Trail of Tears and this book was clearly meant to build on that enthusiasm. Written for early adult readers, this book has a simple chronological organization and just states what happens without much analysis. It hits the right level for its audience; this is not an academic book. It lacks footnotes or even a traditional bibliography but she often mentions her source within the text. When she finished this book, the National Park Service Heritage Trail for the Trail of Tears was a new venture with high hopes but little yet accomplished. I'm looking forward to seeing how well the NPS and states have done in the last 20 years.

[Melinda Crews Kirkley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read about the Trail of Tears before, but never in this much detail. From who was responsible for pushing the Indians out, to the hardships and heartaches they endured, I really felt like I was on the trail with them. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know what traveling the Trail was really like.

[Lisa Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad. However Great Book

[MKF · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tragic and sad.