More than 4,000 die from exposure and disease along the way. 1839 - Assassination of Treaty Party leaders, Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot for breaking pact not to sign Treaty of New Echota. Factionalism continues until 1846. New constitution ratified at convention uniting Cherokees arriving from the east with those in the west. 1851 - Cherokee male and female seminaries open.
Female seminary is the first secondary school for girls west of the Mississippi.
Original Keetoowah Society organized to maintain traditions and fight slavery. 1860 - Tension mounts between Union Cherokees and Confederate Cherokees. Civil War begins. 1861 - Treaty signed at Park Hill between Cherokee Nation and the Confederate government. Cherokee Nation torn by border warfare throughout the Civil War.