The Impact of Westward Expansion on the Cherokee Nation During the time Andrew Jackson was president, there was a population growing rapidly and a desire for more land. For this reason, expansion was inevitable. To the west, many indigenous Indian tribes were settled. Andrew Jackson devoted much of his presidency to dealing with the removal of Indians from the lands of the West. Throughout the 1800s, westward expansion harmed the natives and resulted in an invasion of their lands, which led to wars and tensions between the natives and America, particularly the Cherokee Nation. Native people were forcibly removed from their land in the 1800s by America. In the 1820s and 1830s, Georgia began a campaign to remove the Cherokees from their lands. The Cherokee Indians were one of the largest tribes in America at the time. The Cherokee originally settled near the Great Lakes, but over time they moved to the eastern part of North America. After being threatened by American expansion, Cherokee leaders reorganized their government and adopted a convention-drafted constitution, led by Chief John Ross (Cherokee Removal). In 1828, gold was discovered on their land. This made Cherokee land even more desirable. During the spring and winter of 1838-1839, 20,000 Cherokees were removed and began their journey to Oklahoma. Although the natives wanted to assimilate into America, by law they were neither citizens nor property owners in the state in which they were located. Principal Chief John Ross and Major Ridge were leaders of the Cherokee Nation. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians lost many to smallpox. It was a year later that a treaty was signed for the cession of Cherokee lands in Texas. A small number of assimilated Cherokee Indians in Florida, middle of paper......l>.2. “Cherokee Culture and History.” Native Americans: Cherokee history and culture. Np, and Web. March 02, 2014. .3. “Indian Treaties and Removal Act of 1830-1830_1860 – Milestones – Office of the Historian.” Indian Treaties and Removal Act of 1830 - 1830-1860 - Milestones - Office of the Historian. Np, and Web. March 3, 2014.4. “Miller Center.” American President: Andrew Jackson: A Life in Brief. Np, and Web. March 02, 20145. » Cherokee. »Cherokee. Np, nd Web March 3, 20146. "Help Center -- FamilySearch.org." Help Center 2014. --FamilySearch.org. Np, and Web. March 03, 7. Starr, Emmet. History of the Cherokee Indians and their legends and popular traditions. Baltimore, MD: Genealogical Pub., 2003. Print.8.Starkey, Marion Lena. The Cherokee Nation. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1946. Print.