Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation - PDF
Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation - PDF
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A sixth-generation North Carolinian, highly-acclaimed author John Ehle grew up on former Cherokee hunting grounds. His experience as an accomplished novelist, combined with his extensive, meticulous research, culminates in this moving tragedy rich with historical detail.
The Cherokee are a proud, ancient civilization. For hundreds of years they believed themselves to be the "Principle People" residing at the center of the earth. But by the 18th century, some of their leaders believed it was necessary to adapt to European ways in order to survive. Those chiefs sealed the fate of their tribes in 1875 when they signed a treaty relinquishing their land east of the Mississippi in return for promises of wealth and better land. The U.S. government used the treaty to justify the eviction of the Cherokee nation in an exodus that the Cherokee will forever remember as the “trail where they cried.” The heroism and nobility of the Cherokee shine through this intricate story of American politics, ambition, and greed.
Potatoes and the Agricultural Revolution
The introduction of the potato from the Americas transformed global agriculture by increasing food security and fueling population growth, especially in Europe and China. However, its monoculture also led to vulnerabilities, as seen in the Irish Potato Famine. Mann highlights how a single crop reshaped economies, migration patterns, and national stability.
Silver from South America and the Birth of Global Trade
Silver from South America, particularly Potosí, became the backbone of the first global trade system, linking the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Spain financed its empire with silver, while China’s economy increasingly depended on it. However, this economic boom relied on forced labor and led to severe environmental degradation, showing the exploitative nature of early globalization.
The Rise of Slavery and Plantation Economies
The demand for crops like sugar and tobacco fueled the transatlantic slave trade, making plantations central to colonial economies. Enslaved Africans not only provided labor but also shaped the cultural identity of the Americas. The plantation system drove deforestation, soil depletion, and economic inequality, illustrating how early globalization thrived on exploitation.
Diseases and Ecological Disruptions
European diseases wiped out up to 90% of Indigenous populations in the Americas, making conquest easier. The introduction of livestock, invasive species, and new agricultural practices transformed ecosystems. Mann emphasizes how globalization was not just economic but also biological, permanently altering human and environmental history.