Worcester v. Georgia

What it is

Worcester v. Georgia was a Supreme Court case decided in 1832. Chief Justice John Marshall's opinion held that a Georgia law restricting non-Native Americans on Cherokee land was unconstitutional, recognizing the Cherokee Nation's right to govern its own territory.

Why it matters

The ruling laid foundations for the idea of tribal sovereignty in American law. President Andrew Jackson did not enforce the decision, and it is central to debates about his disregard for the courts and his role in the removal of Native peoples. The case also involved missionary Samuel Worcester, who had defended Cherokee sovereignty and was imprisoned under the Georgia law the Court struck down.

Look closer

• Why did the Supreme Court say Georgia's law was unconstitutional?
• What does Jackson's refusal to enforce the ruling suggest about the relationship between the presidency and the courts?
• Why might this case matter to Cherokee people specifically, beyond the legal arguments?