Students must answer all four parts to receive full credit.
1. Explain Supreme Court case Worcester v. Georgia, what was the case about?
2. What was the outcome of their decision?
3. How did Jackson respond to the decision?
4. What was the effect on the Native Americans?
1. The case Worcester v. Georgia took place in 1832 and involved Samuel Worcester, a white American missionary, and the state of Georgia. The case primarily revolved around the rights of Native American tribes and their sovereignty in the face of state laws.
2. The outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in Worcester v. Georgia was that they ruled in favor of Worcester and the Native American tribes, declaring that the State of Georgia had no jurisdiction over Cherokee territory. The Court held that the tribes were "distinct, independent political communities" with self-governing rights and that Georgia's attempt to extend its laws into Cherokee territory was unconstitutional.
3. President Andrew Jackson disagreed with the Supreme Court's decision and refused to enforce it. He famously defied the court by reportedly saying, "John Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce it." Jackson's response reflected his disdain for the court's authority and underscored his commitment to his policy of Indian removal.
4. The effect of the Worcester v. Georgia case on the Native Americans was mixed. While the Supreme Court recognized the tribes' rights and sovereignty, ultimately their decision was not enforced by Jackson's administration. This led to the forced removal of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, known as the Trail of Tears, causing immense suffering and displacement among the affected tribes. The case, however, set a precedent for future recognition of Native American tribal sovereignty, even if its immediate impact was overshadowed by Jackson's policies.