Worcester v. Georgia was a landmark Supreme Court case in 1832 that involved a legal battle between the state of Georgia and the Cherokee Nation. The case arose when the state of Georgia attempted to extend its jurisdiction over Cherokee lands and forcibly remove them. However, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee Nation, asserting that they held a sovereign right to their lands. Chief Justice John Marshall famously stated that the Cherokee Nation was a "distinct political community" and that only the federal government had the authority to regulate relations with Native American tribes. This decision affirmed the status of Native American tribes as distinct nations with their own rights and paved the way for the recognition of tribal sovereignty in future legal and political battles.
