The Marshall Trilogy Part 3: Worchester v. Georgia (1832)
The follow up case to Cherokee Nation v. Georgia solidified the relationships between states, Native American tribes and the federal government. It found that the United States inherited sovereignty over American lands from Great Britain, including the sole right to deal with Native American tribes. This meant that the states had no authority to create laws that impacted the tribes, only the federal government could do so.
This ruling invalidated the laws Georgia had attempted to impose on the Cherokee Nation, but they were still eventually forced from the state via the Trail of Tears. The opinion was frequently cited in opinions on the sovereignty of the Native American tribes, and established the way courts think about the ability of modern Native tribes to govern themselves within the borders of the United States.
Stop by the John Marshall House Friday – Sunday during National Native American Heritage Month to learn more about the impact of the Marshall Trilogy cases on the Cherokee Nation.
