The case Worcester v. Georgia involved two main parties: Samuel Worcester, a missionary, and the state of Georgia. Worcester, along with other missionaries, had settled in Cherokee territory within Georgia in order to aid and guide the Cherokee people in adopting Western-style education and governance. The state of Georgia, however, had passed laws asserting its authority over the Cherokee lands and outlawing non-Native American presence without state permission. Consequently, Worcester and other missionaries were arrested for residing in Cherokee territory without a state license. The case eventually made its way to the Supreme Court, where the rights and jurisdiction of Native American tribes, the authority of the states, and the power of the federal government were at stake. The outcome of the case had a profound impact not only on Worcester and Georgia but also on the Cherokee Nation and the balance of power between states and the federal government in the United States.
