The Cherokee Indians first began in the Tennessee and Carolina regions of the United States. However, they did not live there forever, as many were soon forced out by the “whites.” The Cherokee first came into contact with Europeans when Spanish explorer Hernando DeSoto explored the region. Later, in 1673, colonial traders began to make contact with the Cherokee tribe. Several years later, in the early 1700s, the Cherokee declared war on the Southern settlers; however, the Cherokee ultimately suffered several losses to smallpox. The population of the Cherokee Indians was estimated at 35,000 in 1685, but by 1760 the population was estimated at seven thousand. Additionally, the Cherokee had a democratic government in which each clan governed itself separately. Overall, there were seven Cherokee clans that created the Cherokee Nation. Although they had a well-established society and government, they were soon forced to leave their homes. In 1838, President Jackson and an army forced the Cherokee Indians to migrate west. This forced migration later became known as “The Trail of Tears,” as 4,000 natives died of starvation or disease. Today it is considered one of the darkest moments in American history and the “trail” remains a memorial to the Indians who perished. The Cherokee Indians currently reside in Oklahoma, where