The Worcester v. Georgia case is important to Georgia's history because it was a landmark Supreme Court decision that highlighted the struggle between state and federal powers in relation to Native American rights and removal policies. The case involved the Cherokee Nation and white missionaries who challenged Georgia's attempt to assert jurisdiction over their lands. The Supreme Court ruled that Georgia's laws did not apply to the Cherokee Nation, and that the federal government had the authority to protect Native American tribes from state interference. Despite this decision, Georgia refused to comply, leading to the forcible removal of the Cherokee people on the Trail of Tears. This event not only highlighted the infringement of Native American rights, but it also underscored the pervasive racism and disregard for federal authority in Georgia's history.
