Trail of Tears: National Historic Trail

by Elliott West

Following several routes, thousands of American Indians were forced from their homelands in the Southeast. On their tortuous trek west many died. This is known as the Trail of Tears.

15 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1999

About the author

A specialist in the history of the American West, Elliott West is Alumni Distinguished Professor of History Emeritus at the University of Arkansas. He received his B.A. from the University of Texas (1967) and his Ph.D. from the University of Colorado (1971). He joined the U of A faculty in 1979. Two of his books, Growing Up With the Country: Childhood on the Far-Western Frontier (1989) and The Way to the West: Essays on the Central Plains (1995) received the Western Heritage Award. The Contested Plains: Indians, Goldseekers, and the Rush to Colorado (1998) received five awards including the Francis Parkman Prize and PEN Center Award. His most recent book is The Last Indian War: The Nez Perce Story (2009).

In 1995 West was awarded the U of A Teacher of the Year and the Carnegie Foundation‘s Arkansas Professor of the Year. In 2001 he received the Baum Faculty Teaching Award, and in 2009 he was one of three finalists for the Robert Foster Cherry Award recognizing the outstanding teacher in the nation.

Reviews

[Barb Innes · Rating 5 out of 5]

After visiting the Pea Ridge Military Park which is on the Trail of Tears, I purchased this book at the museum gift shop. (3.95$). A short, readable history with great illustrations of this disgusting and sad piece of our history. I am planning on reading more about this.

[Jim Blessing · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this pamphlet while on a trip to Oklahoma. It provided good information on this shameful part of American history.