1629 - The first traders from the English settlements
1721 - The Cherokee Treaty with the Governor of the Carolinas
1785 - Treaty of Hopewell is the first treaty between the U.S.
1791 - Treaty of Holston signed. Includes a call for the U.S.
1802 - Jefferson signs Goergia Compact.
1817 - Treaty makes exchange for land in Arkansas.
1821 - Sequoyah's Cherokee Syllabary completed,
1822 - Cherokee's Supreme Court established.
1824 - First written law of Western Cherokees.
1825 - New Echota, GA authorized as Cherokee capital.
1827 - Modern Cherokee Nation
1828 - Cherokee Phoenix published in English and Cherokee;
1828-1830 - Georgia Legislature abolishes tribal government
1832 - US Supreme Court decision Worcester vs Georgia
1838-1839 - Trails of Tears.
1839 - Assassination of Treaty Party leaders,
1844 Cherokee Supreme Court building opens;
1851 - Cherokee male and female seminaries open.
1859 - Original Keetoowah Society organized
1860 - Tension mounts between Union Cherokees
1861 - Treaty signed at Park Hill between Cherokee Nation and the Confederate government.
1865-1866 - Cherokee must negotiate peace with the US Government.
1887 - General Allotment Act passed;
1889 - Unassigned lands in Indian Territory
1890 - Oklahoma Territory organized
1893 - Cherokee Outlet opened for white settlers.
1898 - Curtis Act passed abolishing tribal courts.
1903 - W.C. Rogers becomes last elected chief for 69 years.
1905 - Land allotment begins after official roll taken of Cherokees.
1907 - Oklahoma statehood combines Indian and Oklahoma Territories
1917 - William C. Rogers, the last Cherokee Chief, dies.
1934 - Indian Reorganization Act established a landbase
1948 - Chief J.B.Milam calls Cherokee Convention;
1949 - W.W. Bill Keeler appointed chief by President Harry Truman.
1957 - First Cherokee National Holiday.
1961 - Cherokees awarded 15 million dollars by the
1963 - Cherokee National Historical Society founded.
1967; Trail of Tears Drama,
1969, and museum, 1975.
1967 - Cherokee Foundation formed
1970 - U.S. Supreme Court ruling confirms Cherokee Nation
1971 - W.W.Keeler becomes first elected principal chief since statehood.
1975 - Ross O. Swimmer elected to first of three terms as principal chief.
1976 - Cherokee voters ratify new Constitution
1979 - Tribal offices moved into modern new complex South of Tahlequah.
1984 - First joint council meeting in 146 years
1987 - Wilma Mankiller makes history and draws international attention
1988 - Cherokee Nation joins Eastern Band in
1989 - The Cherokee Nation observes 150th anniversary
1990 - Chief Mankiller signs the historic
1991 - In the July tribal election the first council
1995 - Joe Byrd and Garland Eagle elected principal chief and deputy chief
This Information Found AT
If You Know of Any Other Important Cherokee Dates
1540 - The Spanish explorer, Hernando De Soto and his party
are the first whites seen by the Cherokees.
began trading among the Cherokees.
is thought to be the first consession of land.
and the Cherokees.
to advance civilization of the Cherokees
by giving them farm tools and technical advice.
Old settlers begin voluntary migration and establish a government there.
In 1828, they are forced to move into Indian territory.
quickly leads to almost total literacy among the Cherokees.
begins with Cherokee Constitution established by a convention;
John Ross elected chief.
Andrew Jackson elected President.
Gold discovered in Georgia.
and expands authority over Cherokee country.
establishes tribal sovereignty, protects Cherokees from Georgia laws.
Jackson won't enforce decision and Georgia holds lottery for Cherokee lands.
1835 - Treaty Party signs Treaty of New Echota,
giving up title to all Cherokee lands in southeast in exchange for land
in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma.).
US Government's forced removal of 17,000 Cherokees,
in defiance of Supreme Court decision.
More than 4,000 die from exposure and disease along the way.
Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot for breaking pact
not to sign Treaty of New Echota. Factionalism continues until 1846.
New constitution ratified at convention uniting Cherokees
arriving from the east with those in the west.
Cherokee Advocate becomes the first newspaper in Indian territory.
Female seminary is the first secondary school for girls west of the Mississippi.
to maintain traditions and fight slavery.
and Confederate Cherokees. Civil War begins.
Cherokee Nation torn by border warfare throughout the Civil War.
New treaty limits tribal land rights, eliminates possibility of Cherokee State
and is prelude to Dawes Commission. John Ross dies.
requires individual ownership of lands once held in common by Indian tribes.
opened by white settlers known as "boomers."
out of western half of Indian Territory.
Dawes Commission arrives.
and dissolves tribal government.
for tribes and legal structure for self government.
beginning of model tribal government of the Cherokee Nation.
US Claims Commission for Cherokee Outlet Lands.
CNHS opens Ancient Village,
to purchase land on which the tribal complex now sits.
ownership of bed and banks of 96 mile segment of Arkansas Riverbed.
First Cherokee Tribal Council elected Congress passes
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act.
outlining tribal government.
between Eastern Band of Cherokees and Cherokee Nation held at
Red Clay, TN. Council meetings now held bi-annually.
to tribe as first woman elected chief;
Cherokee voters pass constitution amendment to elect council by districts in 1991.
Cherokee, NC to commemorate beginning of The Trail of Tears.
of arrival in Indian Territory. "A New Beginning".
self-governance agreement, making the Cherokee Nation
one of six tribes to participate in the self-determination project.
The project, which ran for three years beginning Oct.1 1990,
authorized the tribe to assume tribal responsiblity for BIA funds
which were formerly being spent on the tribe's behalf at the agency,
area and central office levels.
to be elected by districts since statehood and Wilma Mankiller
won second elected term as principal chief with a landslide 82% of the votes cast.
which marks the first time in nearly 200 years that full blood bilingual leaders
occupy the top positions of the Cherokee Nation.
The Cherokee Nation
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