Worcester v. Georgia, 1832 Supreme Court Case

Question

The Cherokee Nation, led by Chief John Ross, went to the Supreme Court to argue that Georgia's new laws were unconstitutional.

John Marshall, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, wrote the decision. President Jackson refused to enforce the decision.


Read the adapted version of the decision. Then follow the instructions below.

From the beginning of our government, Congress has passed laws with the Indians that treat them as nations and respect their rights. . . . These laws state that Indian nations control their own territory . . . and the United States government is supposed to protect their independence.

So, the laws of Georgia do not apply to the Cherokee Nation. The people of Georgia cannot enter the Cherokee land unless they have permission. According to the Constitution and our laws, only the United States government can make agreements with the Cherokee.

-Adapted from the decision of Chief Justice John Marshall, Worcester v. Georgia, 1832

Question
Based on the passage above, complete the paragraph to make it correct:



(2 points)
In Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court decided that Georgia's laws about the Cherokee Nation were
. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote that Native American tribes such as the Cherokee were
. But, President Jackson refused to follow the ruling of the Supreme Court. He did not stop people in Georgia from illegally taking Cherokee land.

Answer 1

In Worcester v. Georgia, the Supreme Court decided that Georgia's laws about the Cherokee Nation were unconstitutional. Chief Justice John Marshall wrote that Native American tribes such as the Cherokee were independent nations that had the right to control their own territory. But, President Jackson refused to follow the ruling of the Supreme Court. He did not stop people in Georgia from illegally taking Cherokee land.