5. Forced Removals and Resistance
The 19th-century Indian Removal Act and the resulting Trail of Tears forcibly displaced thousands of Native people from their homelands, causing immense suffering and loss. Despite these traumatic upheavals, many Native communities fiercely resisted removal, maintaining their governance systems and cultural practices in new territories. This resilience helped preserve tribal sovereignty through generations of adversity. For more on the history and legacy of forced removals, visit National Park Service: Trail of Tears.
