Sean Ahearn ’24
Georgia’s Deportation of Creeks and Cherokees: A Prelude to the Trail of Tears
Sean Ahearn ’24, History major
Faculty Mentor: Dr. Edward Andrews, History and Classics
Oral Presentation: Wednesday, April 24, 12:54 p.m.
I am writing about the state of Georgia’s forced removal of its indigenous Creek and Cherokee populations, two Native American groups which inhabited present-day Georgia and surrounding states for over two thousand years. In my first chapter I discuss the removal of the Creeks, and my second chapter I discuss the removal of the Cherokees. It is titled “Georgia’s Deportation of the Creeks and Cherokees: A Prelude to the Trail of Tears.”
Specifically, my presentation focuses on the first chapter of my thesis, Georgia’s forced removal of the Creeks. I first will discuss some brief history regarding “Indian Removal” in Georgia. Then, I will discuss promises made to the state of Georgia by the federal government, pledging to rid Georgia of its native Creek and Cherokee population. Most importantly, I will discuss the role of Lower Creek Chief, William McIntosh. McIntosh was cousins with the governor of Georgia, Georga Troup. The two actually worked together to sell Creek lands in Georgia – while Governor Troup was able to accomplish his goal of Creek Removal, Chief McIntosh benefitted financially. I examine the letters exchanged between McIntosh and Troup, as well as conducting an analysis of the treaties which facilitated Creek removal from Georgia, known as the Treaties of Indian Springs. By 1826, Creek removal from Georgia was complete.
