The journey west was a painful pill that was imposed on the Cherokee by the state and federal government. They cared very little about their society or culture. They cared even less about justice. There was a path of sorrow as well as misery, illness and death known as The Trail of Tears in 1838. The Trail of Tears was started by President Andrew Jackson. At one time, the Cherokee were allied with Andrew Jackson. The problems between the Cherokee and Andrew Jackson all began at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend. That’s when Andrew Jackson’s memorable story began to make sense for the first time. Jackson was considered a great hero after his great victory in this battle against the Creek Indians which he would not have won without the Cherokee allies fighting alongside him. Several years later, in 1828, Andrew Jackson was elected president. Jackson's popularity and subsequent elections are primarily attributed to his pro-Indian removal agenda. Once Jackson had the power to be president, he began to allow the white man to settle in Cherokee territory. Then, Jackson allowed Georgia to expand state law and include the Cherokee Nation in the state. This challenged the dominance of the Cherokees and overturned their laws. It was also because the white man had found gold on Cherokee lands, which really made them bloodthirsty. The men would be paid about $43 to sign the treaty against the Cherokee, called the "New Echota" Removal Program, also known as the Indian Removal Act. This didn't go over very well with the Cherokee. By 1837 and 1838, military troops had gathered more than 2,000 Cherokees and were forced to move west by land or through paper among voters. Still, not everyone supported the Indian Removal Act. The law's most compelling opponent was Congressman Davy Crocket, but the law passed regardless of what Davy said. Once passed by Congress, Jackson quickly signed the bill. Jackson was pleased with "the accomplishments he accomplished, such as getting the Indian Removal Act passed by Congress." In addition to allowing states to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and of course power, he believed the law would also help the Cherokee and other Indian tribes. Jackson, in his speech to Congress in 1830, declared that this would separate the Cherokee and other Indian tribes from the lands of white settlers and free them from competition from the states. This should allow them to live the way they want, in the crudest way they want..