- The Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Greek nations lived in parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The Seminoles, who lived in Florida, had an unusual origin. They were a combination of Creeks who had moved into Florida.
- There was a lot of conflict over land in the Southeast. To government leaders, the presence of Native Americans in the Southeast stood in the way of westward expansion of the United States. Native Americans lived on the fertile land White farmers wanted for growing cotton.
- The Choctaws signed the first treaty in the year of 1830. The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek stated that Closely guarded by American soldiers, the Choctaws moved west between 1831 and 1833. The federal government did not provide enough tents, food, shoe, winter clothes, blankets, or other supplies. Heavy rain and snow caused enormous suffering.
- The Cherokees held out a few years longer. They were still on their land in 1837 when Andrew Jackson left office. President Martin Van Buren forced the Cherokees to move in 1838.