After gold was discovered in Dahlonega, Chief Justice John Marshall and the United States Supreme Court ruled in Worcester v. Georgia that the Cherokee were a sovereign nation. Following this ruling, Andrew Johnson stated "John Marshall has made his ruling. Now let him enforce it."

Question

Which of these was the ultimate result of Worcester v. Georgia?
A. The Cherokee could not hold political offices in Georgia.
B. The Indian Removal Act could not be enforced.
C. The Cherokee were still forced to leave their lands in Georgia.
D. The Indian Removal Act was still repealed.

Answer 1

The ultimate result of Worcester v. Georgia was C. The Cherokee were still forced to leave their lands in Georgia.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity and that Georgia's laws did not apply within its territory, the enforcement of this decision was not carried out effectively. The Indian Removal Act, under President Andrew Jackson, ultimately led to the forced relocation of the Cherokee in what became known as the Trail of Tears.