3. The Cherokee Nation’s Legal Battle
The Cherokee Nation fought removal through the courts, culminating in the landmark Worcester v. Georgia case of 1832. The Supreme Court sided with the Cherokee, affirming their sovereign rights and declaring state laws inapplicable within their territory. However, the federal government refused to enforce the ruling, leaving the Cherokee vulnerable. This denial of justice, as documented by Oyez, exposed the limits of legal protection for Native nations and deepened the sense of betrayal.
