The Trail of Tears is a story based on the forced mass exodus of the Cherokee Nation from the eastern United States. The documentary and textbook discuss the reasoning behind the decision to remove the Cherokee from their lands. It also discusses the people involved and the decision, along with the outcome of some. The Cherokee Nation was a collaboration of five individual tribes, including Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, and Seminoles. During the Revolutionary War the Cherokee had chosen to side with the English, and now found themselves at odds with the United States government. Contemplating their future they began to focus on leadership of others in the tribe. After the American Revolution, the United States government developed. With the help of former Attorney General William Hurt, more than a dozen counter cases were produced, of which two made it to the Supreme Court. A supreme court ruled that the Cherokee were their own nation and could not be removed, which Andrew Jackson ignored. Standing strong, Ross pushes the Cherokee to resist and fight for their rights. Behind Ross's back and in secret a group of prominent Cherokee men, including the Ridge, signed the Removal Act treaty, reclaiming their land in the west. Only 2,000 of the 18,000 Cherokees accept and move to the West. A petition is signed by the 15,665 remaining Indians and sent to the U.S. government. The petition is denied and federal troops along with militia are sent to round up the Indians. The Indians once rounded up are placed in stockades, without formal shelters the Indians live in filth. Ross goes to negotiate and agrees to go West. They leave in early December and have a line that goes from Illinois to Kentucky. During this journey, some are separated by rivers and spend a month or more without food or shelter. Over 4,000 Indians die on what is now called the Trail of