Question

In 1832, the United States Supreme Court ruled in Worcester v. Georgia that the state of Georgia had no right to force the Cherokee from their native lands. Why did this ruling have little positive effect?
A.
The Trail of Tears had already occurred.
B.
Georgia had no interest in Cherokee lands.
C.
President Jackson did not enforce the ruling.
D.
The Cherokee nation chose to move to Canada.

Answer 1

C. President Jackson did not enforce the ruling.

The Supreme Court had no power to enforce its decision without the executive branch; President Andrew Jackson refused to act to uphold it, and Georgia ignored the Court. This failure to enforce led to continued removal of the Cherokee (the Trail of Tears followed a few years later).