This Day in Gwinnett History: Andrew Jackson vs The Supreme Court

Back in the day (the 1830s to be precise, when I was a much younger man) Samuel Worcester made a name for himself as a missionary and staunch supporter of Cherokee rights, even co-founding the Cherokee Phoenix, which was the first Native American newspaper. He ran afoul of Georgia law for living in native territory and was convicted in 1831 at the old Lawrenceville Superior Court, which was conveniently housed in Elisha Winn's barn. That's the Winn House pictured above, which you can visit at 908 Dacula Road. 

Worcester was sentenced to four years hard labor down at the Milledgeville state penitentiary. He was offered a pardon, but refused to accept it, choosing instead to appeal the conviction. Samuel took it all the way to the Supreme Court with what turned out to be the landmark decision known as Worcester v. GA, decided on this day in 1832. The Supreme Court famously upheld the idea of tribal sovereignty and ruled that the relationship of the US Government and the Native Americans is the relationship of nations, which is where President Andrew Jackson comes in. 

Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson was incensed. He had plans for the Native Americans, and the idea of tribal sovereignty didn't help him out one bit. Jackson is famously reported to have said, "The Supreme Court has made their decision, now let them enforce it," but he knew, just as any elementary school social studies student knows, that the Supreme Court can't enforce laws. Jackson proceeded to disregard the idea of tribal sovereignty, which resulted in forced removal along the infamous Trail of Tears, and Samuel Worcester, devout as ever, relocated to Indian Territory to prepare for the arrival of the Cherokee.