Trail of Tears

An Enthralling Guide to the Choctaw and Chickasaw Removal, the Seminole Wars, Creek Dissolution, and Forced Relocation of the Cherokee Tribe

By: Billy Wellman

Narrated by: Jay Herbert

Length: 3 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

The removal of the Native Americans west of the Mississippi River during the 1800s to clear the way for settlers is a tragic story that involves human suffering on a grand scale.

The policy of Manifest Destiny said America was a morally superior nation that had the right to build an empire from the East Coast to the West Coast, much to the detriment of the Native Americans who stood in the way. This audiobook will document the Trail of Tears, bringing to light many events that occurred in the background while describing a few prominent Native American chiefs, such as Seminole Chief Abiaka and Cherokee Chief John Ross, and some of the European-Americans with whom they clashed.

We will also go beyond standard history and take a closer look at the assimilation that occurred between the white settlers and the Native Americans. The unique characteristics of the tribes that met the Spanish settlers who arrived in Florida and the other European settlers who arrived on the East Coast are often not fully realized. We will take a closer look at this blending of cultures to give you a clearer picture of what the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminoles were like by the time of the Trail of Tears.

Here are just some of the things you will discover in this audiobook:

• Why tribes developed various forms of Christianity.
• The reasons behind chiefs signing treaties to give away native lands.
• George Washington’s views on the Native Americans.
• The Five Civilized Tribes and how they differed from each other.
• How the average person viewed Native Americans in the 19th century.
• Davey Crockett’s opinion on the relocation of Native Americans.
• The Indian Removal Act of 1830, and how it impacted the Trail of Tears.
• And so much more!

©2022 Billy Wellman (P)2022 Billy Wellman

Sad story

This audiobook covers history I did not learn in school. I had heard of “Manifest Destiny,” but never connected the dots from America becoming a great coast-to-coast nation and the sorrows and even death inflicted upon the people who were already living here. Treaty after treaty was broken. While there were atrocities committed against white settlers as well, the actions of the US government cannot be excused. At the risk of forcing 21st eyes upon 19th century people, it sure seems assimilation over time would have been a much better solution.

Performance is a solid zero.

I don't think i can bring myself to finish, primarily due to the narrator. The book also jumps back and forth between tribes, and timeframes and it's hard to pay attention to.