The Treaty of New Echota is signed, giving all the lands of the Cherokee east of the Mississippi River to the United States.

Today New Echota is preserved as a landmark and historical site. New Echota was the Cherokee capital from 1825 till the 1830’s. The Cherokee moved to New Echota from Chota after having ceded the land to the United States.

On this day December 29th, in 1835, the Treaty of New Echota is signed between Georgian officials and representatives of a small division of the Cherokees known as the Tree Party. Many Cherokee objected the terms of the Treaty because it did not have the approval of John Ross, the main chief of the Cherokee.

In this treaty, the Cherokee relinquished their claims on land East of the Mississippi River, and agreed to move west into Indian territory. This Treaty gave justification for what had already been occurring, the Trail of Tears. The purpose of the Trail of Tears was to forcibly remove the Natives from their homes so that white settlers could live there. President Andrew Jackson was one of the leaders and strong advocate of the Trail of Tears campaign, as he was also known for his virulent hatred of Native Americans.