The significance of the "Trail of Tears" in American history lies in its representation of the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma during the 1830s. The term specifically refers to the harrowing journey of the Cherokee Nation, who, under the Indian Removal Act of 1830, faced immense suffering due to disease, starvation, and harsh conditions. Thousands died along the way. This tragic event highlights the broader themes of displacement, cultural loss, and injustice faced by Indigenous peoples, which remain relevant topics in discussions of American history.