The Potawatomi Indians lost their lands in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin during the first half of the 19th century.  Agents for the U.S.A. tricked, swindled, and threatened the Potawatomi into turning over their lands.  The first large section of land was given up by the Potawatomi to the U.S.A. in 1807. Other lands were handed over in 1829. After President Andrew Jackson signed into law the "Removal Act of 1830" the remaining Potawatomi lands went rapidly.  The "Removal Act of 1830" called for the removal of all Indians, without exception, to lands west of the Mississippi river.  By 1837, with most of the land promised to them by the U.S. gone,  the Potawatomi were no longer welcome east of the Mississippi.

The Trail of Death is a record of the journey of one large group of Potawatomi who travelled from Indiana to eastern Kansas in the fall of 1838.  The forced march started in northern Indiana, moved through central Illinois and Missouri, and ended in Kansas.

Perhaps "ended" is the wrong word.  After all, the memory of the Trail of Death is still alive in the minds of many Potawatomi; and the deaths, hardships, and humiliation suffered by the Potawatomi during the forced march are being felt by more and more white citizens today.

It is your job to learn about the Trail of Death.  By reading the journals of eyewitnesses who were a part of the trail, reading newspaper accounts of the journey, viewing paintings and sketches of the participants, and seeing how local towns have paid tribute to this tragedy, you should be able to understand how these Native Americans were treated by folks just like you and I, who lived in the same place we live today.  Let's get started ...

Click here to see a map of the Trail of Death!