The forced removal of Southeastern Native American tribes was known as the __________.

The forced removal of Southeastern Native American tribes was known as the "Trail of Tears."

The Trail of Tears refers specifically to the removal of the Cherokee Nation from their ancestral lands in Georgia to the Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma) in the winter of 1838-1839, although the term is sometimes used to describe the forced relocations of several tribes, including the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole. This tragic event unfolded as a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was signed by President Andrew Jackson. The act authorized the U.S. government to negotiate removal treaties with Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River.

The process of removal for the Cherokee and other tribes was brutal and poorly managed. They were forced to leave their homes, often with little preparation or resources. Thousands of Native Americans died during the journey due to disease, exposure to extreme weather, and inadequate supplies. The Trail of Tears is considered one of the darkest chapters in American history, as it represents the grave injustices inflicted upon Native American tribes who were legally and violently displaced from their homelands. The term embodies the suffering and the significant loss of life that occurred during the relocation process.