The Treaty of New Echota was signed in a context of intense pressure on Native American lands, where the U.S. government aimed to relocate Indigenous peoples to facilitate westward expansion. The treaty was negotiated in New Echota, Georgia, and was put forth by U.S. officials and a faction of the Cherokee Nation. Major Ridge, John Ridge, and Elias Boudinot were among the leaders who supported this treaty, representing a minority view among the Cherokee, contrary to the wishes of Principal Chief John Ross and many others who opposed the forced removal. The treaty stipulated the cession of all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River, granting the Cherokee Nation funds and land in what is now Oklahoma. Following the treaty's signing, the implementation of its terms led to great upheaval for the Cherokee people. While the treaty stipulated $5 million in compensation for the loss of their ancestral lands, many Cherokees viewed the agreement as illegitimate due to a lack of consent from the majority of tribe members. The U.S. government used the treaty to justify the subsequent removal of the Cherokee, resulting in the infamous Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Native Americans were forcibly relocated with immense suffering and loss of life. The treaty not only reshaped the landscape of Native American rights but also set precedents for future treaties and federal policies toward Indigenous peoples.