In a lot of ways it should not have been considered a legal agreement. The Treaty of New Echota was a treaty with the United States government and the Cherokee Indians. This treaty guaranteed the Indians $5 million dollars, and land in Oklahoma, as long as they gave up their land peacefully. The Cherokee knew they stood no chance against the United States government, so some thought it was a good idea, while many did not. This agreement was ratified without the approval of the Cherokee National Council, and should have never happened. Many Cherokee ended up not leaving, and had to walk the Trail of Tears, where almost all of them died. The United States government was just antsy to get them out and did not take extra precautions or time to try to make a proper legal agreement.
