Why was the Cherokee tribe considered to be a very educated, advanced tribe in North America?

The Cherokee tribe was considered to be highly educated and advanced for several reasons, one of the most significant being the development of a written language. In the early 19th century, a Cherokee man named Sequoyah created a syllabary for the Cherokee language, which enabled widespread literacy among the Cherokee people. This syllabary, which is a set of written symbols each representing a syllable, allowed the Cherokee to read, write, and communicate complex ideas effectively.

The creation of the syllabary led to the publication of newspapers in the Cherokee language, including the Cherokee Phoenix, which is notable for being the first newspaper in a Native American language. Having a newspaper facilitated the spread of information and ideas, further supporting the educational advancement of the Cherokee.

Another aspect of their advancement was their early adaptation of European-style farming techniques, their own written constitution and legal system, and the operation of businesses. In addition, they established schools, often in conjunction with missionaries, that provided education to both boys and girls. This progressive approach to education and governance marked them as advanced among Native American tribes and comparable to the more developed communities of the time in the United States.