The Trail of Tears was a pivotal event in U.S. history, symbolizing the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, primarily the Cherokee, in the 1830s. This policy, driven by American expansionism and the desire for land, resulted in immense suffering and loss of life due to disease, starvation, and harsh conditions during the journey to designated Indian Territory. The Trail of Tears illustrated the brutal consequences of U.S. policies towards indigenous peoples, highlighting themes of injustice, resilience, and the struggle for rights that resonate in contemporary discussions about Native American sovereignty and identity.