OPPapers.com

Time Line

450(?)

First Cherokee enter the state in the vicinity of Traveler's Rest. Tugaloo Old Town (now covered by Lake Tugaloo) is the first major Cherokee village.

1540-1

deSoto "visits" the Cherokee and is supposedly one of the first whites seen by the tribe, although written descriptions of the tribe by the Spanish note the wide range of colors in the tribe, from "negro" (black) to light skinned and "fair," according to Moyano and Pardo.

1715

Massive uprising against North and South Carolina.

1721

First treaty with whites (South Carolina).

1738

Smallpox eradicates 25% of the Cherokee Nation. Nancy Ward is born

1753

Smallpox epidemic.

1755(?)

Battle of Taliwa (numerous other spellings) - Accounts differ on exact events, however, the Creek, who greatly outnumber the Cherokee, attack the Cherokee line five times. During the fifth attack elderly Cherokee leader Kingfisher is slain. His teenage wife picks up his weapon, and chanting a Cherokee war song, Nancy Ward leads the Cherokee to victory, routing the Creek. The battle marked successful expulsion of the Creek from much of North Georgia. The only major remaining Creek settlement was near present Rome, Georgia.

1760-1762

Cherokee War (SC)

1771

Sequoyah born. Ridge born.

1773

First cession of Cherokee land in Georgia.

1776-1783

Impressed by the British during the French and Indian War, the Cherokee side with them during the American Revolution. The price for the decision is immense. Colonel Pickens destroys Long Swamp village (1782) and forces the Cherokee to cede land to settlers.

1786

Treaty of Hopewell (SC)- The Cherokee thought this would be the end of the settlers' invasion of Cherokee land. Within 3 years bitter fighting had erupted as settlers continued to move into the Cherokee Nation. This treaty is the basis for the term "Talking Leaves," the name of the tribe's...