Major Ridge (approximately 1771 - June 22nd 1839) was a chief Cherokee.

Summary

Ridge was born in the clan Deer (" Cerf") cherokee city of Hiwassee at the edge of the river Hiwassee, which will form later part of the Tennessee. The maternal grandfather of Ridge was Scottish of Highland. Thus Ridge was only to the 3/4 of Cherokee ascent, as of many Indians of America at that time who had a partial European heritage (moreover often Scottish). The english language version of its name was in the beginning only “Ridge”; it acquired the title of “Major” (Commander) in 1814 whereas it led Cherokees to the sides of the general Andrew Jackson with the Bataille of Horseshoe Bend during the war Creek. It also joined Jackson during the first war Seminole in 1818, ordering Cherokees against Indiens Seminole. After the war, Ridge became a rich person grower as well as an owner of slaves.

Deportation and assassination

Ridge had been opposed a long time to the proposals of the government of the United States so that Cherokees sell their grounds and move towards the West but the fast expansion white colonization and the efforts of the State of Georgia to remove the government cherokee made it change opinion. Advised by his son John Ridge, Major Ridge then estimated that the best manner of preserving the interests of the nation cherokee was to obtain government of good concessions before it is too late. The December 22nd 1835, Ridge was one of the signatories of the Traité of New Echota which organized the exchange of the tribal ground more cherokee in the east of the the Mississippi for grounds in the west. Legally doubtful, the treaty was rejected by the chief cherokee John Ross and the majority of the people cherokee. Nevertheless, it was ratified by the Sénat of the United States. Pau after the signature of the treaty, Ridge emigrated with its family and much of other Cherokees towards the West. The terms of the treaty were strictly applied and Cherokees (as their African slaves) which were still in the tribal grounds of the east of the United States were off-set by the federal government in 1838. They began a voyage known under the name of the “Piste of the Tears " during which several thousands died. In the west, Ridge and the other signatories of the Treaty of New Echota underwent the consequences of their acts. In 1839, Major Ridge, his John son, and the nephew Elias Boudinot were assassinated by of Cherokees of the faction of John Ross. The nephew of Ridge Stand Watie, the future confederated general of the American Civil War was also aimed but succeeded in escaping to become then chief of Cherokees of the south.

Ridge and its son are buried with Stand Watie in the cemetery of Polson in the west of the Missouri.

Bonds

• Major Ridge in the '' Encyclopédie of the Indians of North America ''

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