Question

question 2 of 10

at the beginning of the civil war, the cherokee peoples aligned with the confederacy, hoping to:

a. receive confederate soldiers protection.
b. gain their independence.
c. receive northern land.
d. keep slavery alive.

Explanation:

Analyze Cherokee motivations in the Civil War

During the American Civil War, the Cherokee Nation faced intense pressure to choose sides. Many Cherokee leaders, including Principal Chief John Ross, initially sought neutrality. However, the Union abandoned its military posts in Indian Territory (modern-day Oklahoma), leaving the region vulnerable.

Evaluate the alliance with the Confederacy

The Confederacy offered the Cherokee Nation several key incentives to secure an alliance. In the treaty signed in October 1861, the Confederate government promised to respect Cherokee sovereignty, assume the payment of annuities previously paid by the United States, and provide military protection against Union incursions.

Assess the options

• A. receive Confederate soldiers' protection: This was a primary, immediate motivation. The Union had withdrawn its troops, leaving the Cherokee exposed to hostile forces.
• B. gain their independence: The Cherokee were seeking to protect their existing sovereignty and land rights rather than fighting for complete independence from all external powers.
• C. receive Northern land: The Cherokee were focused on defending their own territory in the West, not acquiring land in the North.
• D. keep slavery alive: While some wealthy Cherokee members owned enslaved people, preserving slavery was not the primary collective motivation for the nation's official diplomatic alignment.

Answer:

• (A) receive Confederate soldiers' protection. (Correct answer)
• (B) gain their independence.
• (C) receive Northern land.
• (D) keep slavery alive.