Question

in worcester v. georgia, cherokee leaders argued that:
a. treaties signed with the united states did not make cherokee peoples a sovereign nation.
b. the u.s. government could not enforce the united states laws on cherokee territory.
c. the u.s. government could force cherokee peoples to leave land that it legally owned.
d. the cherokee nations constitution did not make it a sovereign nation with its own laws.

Explanation:

In Worcester v. Georgia, the Cherokee leaders argued that as a sovereign nation (which they were recognized as through treaties), the U.S. government (and by extension, state governments like Georgia) could not enforce U.S. laws on Cherokee territory. The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee in this regard, stating that Georgia had no right to extend its laws over Cherokee lands. Option A is incorrect because treaties did recognize the Cherokee as a sovereign nation. Option C is wrong as the case was about the enforcement of laws on territory, not about forcing them off land (though this was a real - world consequence later). Option D is incorrect because the Cherokee Nation's constitution was part of their argument for sovereignty.

Answer:

B. the U.S. government could not enforce the United States' laws on Cherokee territory.