After the Trail of Tears - by William G McLoughlin (Paperback)

About the Book

After the Trail of Tears: The Cherokees' Struggle for Sovereignty, 1839-1880

Book Synopsis

This powerful narrative traces the social, cultural, and political history of the Cherokee Nation during the forty-year period after its members were forcibly removed from the southern Appalachians and resettled in what is now Oklahoma. In this master work, completed just before his death, William McLoughlin not only explains how the Cherokees rebuilt their lives and society, but also recounts their fight to govern themselves as a separate nation within the borders of the United States. Long regarded by whites as one of the 'civilized' tribes, the Cherokees had their own constitution (modeled after that of the United States), elected officials, and legal system. Once re-settled, they attempted to reestablish these institutions and continued their long struggle for self-government under their own laws -- an idea that met with bitter opposition from frontier politicians, settlers, ranchers, and business leaders. After an extremely divisive fight within their own nation during the Civil War, Cherokees faced internal political conflicts as well as the destructive impact of an influx of new settlers and the expansion of the railroad. McLoughlin brings the story up to 1880, when the nation's fight for the right to govern itself ended in defeat at the hands of Congress.

From the Back Cover

This powerful narrative traces the social, cultural, and political history of the Cherokee Nation during the forty-year period after its members were forcibly removed from the southern Appalachians and resettled in what is now Oklahoma. In this master work, completed just before his death, the author not only explains how the Cherokees rebuilt their lives and society, but also recounts their fight to govern themselves as a separate nation within the borders of the United States.

Review Quotes

"A strong foundation for the study of Cherokee legal history."--Journal of Legal Education

"An opportunity to consider the practical significance of judicial recognition of indigenous rights by providing an illustrative account of the difficulty of asserting and protecting such rights in rapidly changing (and fundamentally racist) social context. . . . [A]n impressive historical record."--Canadian Journal of Law and Society

"Balanced and detailed. . . . In this well-written book, McLoughlin adroitly maintains the chronology while carefully relating important topics and themes that have suffused Cherokee history. After the Trail of Tears is amply documented with footnotes and illustrated with the most relevant maps."--Law and History Review

"McLoughlin provides considerable detail about Cherokee efforts to form a stable representative government and recounts the conflict and changing relations among Old Settlers, the Treaty Party, and the majority of Cherokee conservatives, or the national party. . . . [T]his volume is [McLoughlin's] crowning achievement."--American Historical Review

About the Author

The late William G. McLoughlin was professor emeritus of history and religion at Brown University. He was author of numerous books, including Cherokee Renascence, 1794-1833.