The historical event involving the forced relocation of Native Americans known as the Trail of Tears occurred in the 1830s. This devastating policy was enacted under the Indian Removal Act, which authorized the U.S. government to relocate Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. The Cherokee Nation, among others, suffered greatly during this forced march, facing harsh conditions, disease, and starvation, resulting in significant loss of life. The Trail of Tears symbolizes the tragic consequences of U.S. expansion and the profound injustices faced by Indigenous peoples.