John A. Ridge

John A. Ridge (1816-1887) was a prominent Native American leader of the Cherokee Nation during a turbulent period in U.S. history. A key figure in the removal of the Cherokee people from their ancestral lands, he signed the Treaty of New Echota in 1835, which led to the forced relocation known as the Trail of Tears, resulting in significant suffering and death. Despite his controversial role, Ridge was also an advocate for education and rights for the Cherokee. His complex legacy reflects the struggles of Native Americans in the face of U.S. expansion and their pursuit of sovereignty and rights.