American Experience We Shall Remain: Part III - Trail of Tears (Season 21, Episode 7)
TV-PG
TV Episode | 76 min | Documentary, Biography, History

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American Experience

We Shall Remain: Part III - Trail of Tears (Season 21, Episode 7)

TV-PG

TV Episode | 76 min | Documentary, Biography, History

The Cherokee would call it Nu-No-Du-Na Tlo-Hi-Lu, "The Trail Where They Cried." On May 26, 1838, federal troops forced thousands of Cherokee from their homes in the Southeastern United States, driving them toward Indian Territory in ...See moreThe Cherokee would call it Nu-No-Du-Na Tlo-Hi-Lu, "The Trail Where They Cried." On May 26, 1838, federal troops forced thousands of Cherokee from their homes in the Southeastern United States, driving them toward Indian Territory in Eastern Oklahoma. More than 4,000 died of disease and starvation along the way. For years the Cherokee had resisted removal from their land in every way they knew. Convinced that white America rejected Native Americans because they were "savages," Cherokee leaders established a republic with a European-style legislature and legal system. Many Cherokee became Christian and adopted westernized education for their children. Their visionary principal chief, John Ross, would even take the Cherokee case to the Supreme Court, where he won a crucial recognition of tribal sovereignty that still resonates. The Supreme Court ruling proved no deterrent to President Andrew Jackson's demands that the Cherokee leave their ancestral lands. A complex debate divided the Cherokee Nation, with Chief Ross urging the Cherokee to stay, and Major Ridge, a respected tribal leader, urging the tribe to move West and rebuild, going so far as to sign a removal treaty himself without the authority to do so. Though in the end the Cherokee embrace of "civilization" and their landmark legal victory proved no match for white land hunger and military power, the Cherokee people were able, with characteristic ingenuity, to build a new life in Oklahoma, far from the land that had sustained them for generations. Written by We Shall Remain See less

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Cast	+ Add Cast
41 cast members

Name	Known for
Jackson Walker Daniel Ross Daniel Ross See fewer	42 (2013)
Elijah Abdullah Slave Slave See fewer	Yo Momma (2006)
Thomas N. Belt Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Josh Blaylock Young John Ross Young John Ross See fewer	Video Game High School (2012)
Benjamin Bratt Narrator (voice) Narrator (voice) See fewer	Miss Congeniality (2000)
Carla-Rae Suzanna Ridge (as Carla-Rae Holland) Suzanna Ridge (as Carla-Rae Holland) See fewer	Bones of Crows: The Series (2023)
Cleo Deerinwater Actress Actress See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Kelly Finley Sara Sara See fewer	Holden On (2017)
William J. Finley Elias Boudinot (as Will Finley) Elias Boudinot (as Will Finley) See fewer	The Bold and the Beautiful (1987)
Ken Foster Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Wesley French John Ridge John Ridge See fewer	Defiance (2013)
Robert Girty Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Aaron Hair Actor Actor See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Andrew Hair Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Jack Harkleroad Actor Actor See fewer	Ghost of the Needle (2003)
Robert Hatch Missionary Missionary See fewer	First Man (2018)
Mark Hetherington Angry Townsperson Angry Townsperson See fewer	Chronic Pain (2010)
Tiffany Howcroft Angry Villager Angry Villager See fewer	Paragods (2013)
John A. Ketcher Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Ryan Lewis Wealthy Plantation Owner Wealthy Plantation Owner See fewer	The Staircase (2022)
Gwen Mason Actress Actress See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Joshua B. Nelson Mixed-blood Cherokee Leader #2 Mixed-blood Cherokee Leader #2 See fewer	Searching for Sequoyah (2021)
Theda Perdue Self Self See fewer	Race: The Power of an Illusion (2003)
Emily Podleski Sarah Northrup Sarah Northrup See fewer	Criminal Minds (2005)
Edd Robinson William Wirt William Wirt See fewer	Blackbird Bye Bye (2017)
Edward M. Robinson Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Gayle Ross Self Self See fewer	Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
John Ross Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Woodrow Ross Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Brad D. Smith Senator Senator See fewer	The People v. Leo Frank (2009)
Chad Smith Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Brian Spencer Senator Senator See fewer	The People v. Leo Frank (2009)
Kurt Sternlof Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Joe Stiliano Actor Actor See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)
Frederick Stuart John Ross (as Freddy Douglas) John Ross (as Freddy Douglas) See fewer	Queen of Swords (2000)
Wes Studi Major Ridge Major Ridge See fewer	The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Carey Tilley Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Steve Toney Georgia Militia Soldier Georgia Militia Soldier See fewer	The Warrant (2020)
Russell G. Townsend Self Self See fewer	American Experience (1987)
Steve Warren Missionary Missionary See fewer	Witch Hunters Extraordinaire (2002)
Jace Weaver Self Self See fewer	Freedom Riders (2009)