New Echota
Settled into the heart of northwest Georgia was a little thriving town called New Town inhabited by Native Americans. It became the capital of the Cherokee Nation. It was the home of the first Cherokee printing press and, sadly, of the New Echota treaty that led to the fate of the Cherokee, their removal.
In the early 1800's, the Cherokee established a three branch government system patterned like the United States. The Cherokee people, about 16,000 at the time, divided their nation into eight districts in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina. Delegates were elected from each district to serve in the legislature.
The law making branch of the Cherokee government consisted of the lower house, called the National Council, and the upper house, called the National Committee. Yearly Council Meetings were held in New Town, which was voted as the nation's capital and renamed New Echota in 1825.
The council selected the people to serve in the executive branch of their government. The executive branch was made up of the principal chief, the vice-principal chief, and the treasurer.
Court house at New Echota
The judicial branch consisted of a court in each of the eight districts. The nation had four circuit courts and a Supreme Court in which judges decided on appealed cases from the lower courts. New Echota was the capital of a nation which, although not recognized as such by the United States Government, was an independent country which governed itself.
New Echota was the birthplace of Cherokee journalism with the Council's approval of a national press and newspaper. They had acted quickly after the adoption of Sequoyah's written language, developed single handedly with about twelve years' work.
The newspaper's first editor was Elias Boudinot. He wrote about his opposition of removal of Indian's from the southeast, but later figured that the Cherokee should accept the removal rather than fight a hopeless war or live in oppression. He resigned when his Cherokee government would not allow publication of his views.
Cherokee Phoenix Newspaper Office
From 1828 until 1834, the Cherokee Phoenix newspaper was published weekly in Cherokee and English. Not only was it delivered throughout the Indian Nation but also to the U.S.and Europe. New Echota's press also printed a novel, the Bible, and hymns in Cherokee.
Elijah Hicks served as editor of the paper until arrested by the Georgia Gaurd, who dismantled the printing press. In the late 1950's, a group of Calhoun citizens purchased a portion of the original New Echota site and donated it to the state. Work began to preserve the old nation to create a historic site. Studies were done to identify the old layout as it stood 100 years ago.
Construction men rebuilt the Pheonix, which holds a 1870's printing press, the courthouse, and an ordinary Cherokee house. The Vann tavern was moved to a central location there also. A monument was moved to the side of the museum where today you can see a movie about the Trail of Tears. Park rangers and volunteers can give you a great learning experience.
The only structure still standing at the time of the land donation to the state was the Worcester house. (not the Worcester house)
