Evaluate the following excerpt from a private in the US Army that was a part of the forced departure of the Cherokee from Georgia to present-day Oklahoma.. "On the morning of November 17th, we encountered a terrific sleet and snow storm with freezing temperatures, and from that day until we reached the end of the fateful journey on March the 27th, 1839, the sufferings of the Cherokee were awful. The trail of the exiles was a trail of death."

Question

Evaluate the following excerpt from a private in the US Army that was a part of the forced departure of the Cherokee from Georgia to present-day Oklahoma.. "On the morning of November 17th, we encountered a terrific sleet and snow storm with freezing temperatures, and from that day until we reached the end of the fateful journey on March the 27th, 1839, the sufferings of the Cherokee were awful. The trail of the exiles was a trail of death."
—Memoirs of Private John G. Burnett, December 1890
Based on this passage, why was the forced removal of the Cherokee known as the "Trail of Tears"? Please be sure to use RACES to construct your response in your own words. (Restate, Answer, Cite/Example, Explain, Summarize)

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The forced removal of the Cherokee is known as the "Trail of Tears" due to the severe hardships and suffering they endured during their journey to Oklahoma. In the excerpt from Private John G. Burnett's memoirs, he describes the harsh conditions that the Cherokee faced, stating, "we encountered a terrific sleet and snow storm with freezing temperatures" which contributed to the dire circumstances of the trek.

This quote illustrates the brutal weather conditions that the Cherokee faced as they were forcibly marched from their homeland. Burnett emphasizes the scale of their suffering by noting that "the sufferings of the Cherokee were awful," highlighting the immense physical and psychological toll of the journey.

The phrase "trail of death" captures the tragic outcome of this forced removal, as many Cherokee individuals succumbed to the elements, disease, and starvation along the way. This term encapsulates the loss of life and the profound sorrow experienced by the Cherokee people as they were uprooted from their land and subjected to a harrowing journey.

In summary, the name "Trail of Tears" reflects the despair and agony of the Cherokee during their forced removal, echoing the experiences articulated by Burnett in his memoirs, who recounts the extreme conditions and suffering that marked their journey.