Description
This document is the U.S. Supreme Court's majority opinion — written by Chief Justice John Marshall — of the case the Cherokee Nation brought against the State of Georgia. Marshall and the U.S. Supreme Court wrestled with whether or not the Cherokee should be considered a state, a foreign nation or something else under the U.S. Constitution. The majority opinion declared that America Indian tribes were not foreign states and could not bring action in U.S. courts.
Full Transcript of U.S. Supreme Court's Majority Opinion
Transcribed Excerpts from U.S. Supreme Court's Majority Opinion
Source-Dependent Questions
- According to this document, what was the main question the U.S. Supreme Court was deliberating?
- What does this document tell you about the Cherokee Nation’s attempts to stop their removal from Georgia?
- How does John Marshall describe the relationship between the American Indian tribes and the United States government?
Citation Information
Marshall, John, "Opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States delivered by Chief Justice John Marshall in the case of the Cherokee Nation vs. The State of Georgia," January 1831. Courtesy of Library of Congress