What event is commonly referred to as the tragic forced removal of the Cherokee people in 1838?

The event commonly referred to as the Trail of Tears describes the forced removal of the Cherokee people from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory, which is present-day Oklahoma. This relocation was part of a broader policy of Indian removal enacted by the U.S. government, particularly under President Andrew Jackson's administration. The Cherokees faced terrible conditions during the forced march, including disease, exposure to the elements, and lack of food, leading to the deaths of thousands during the journey. The term "Trail of Tears" encapsulates the profound suffering and loss experienced by the Cherokee Nation and reflects the broader tragedy experienced by many Native American tribes during this period of U.S. history. This event is memorialized as a significant and sorrowful chapter, illustrating the impact of expansionist policies on indigenous populations.