The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears | American History Teaching Resources
Dave Raymond covers the Cherokee Trail of Tears in Lesson 17 of his American History video curriculum.
We’ve collected primary source documents, timelines, pictures, virtual tours, and documentaries for your homeschool students to study this fascinating and heartbreaking period.
What led to the Trail of Tears? Watch Dave answer this question in Lecture 17.5 from this week’s lesson.
My students like that Dave Raymond details the ‘why’ and not just the ‘when’ of historical events. ~ Judy
Primary Sources
The Trail of Tears —Read from a generous selection of primary source documents related to the Cherokee nation, John Ross, and official correspondence.
Chief John Ross 
Land ceded by the Cherokee 
The Trail of Tears
Interactive Media
Explore the Cherokee National History Museum —Take an amazing 3D tour
The Trail of Tears —Various routes overlaid on current state lines and highways (PDF)
Cherokee Nation Study —Multimedia resources and questions for further study
Documentaries
Trail of Tears —From a longer PBS documentary which summarizes and re-enacts scenes from this sorrowful event. [PBS, 5:24]
The Cherokee Alphabet —Brief documentary clip which explains the momentous achievement of Sequoyah in creating an alphabet for the language of his people. [PBS, 1:20]
