<P> Meanwhile, Schermerhorn organized a meeting with the pro-removal council members at New Echota, Georgia . Only five hundred Cherokee (out of thousands) responded to the summons, and, on December 30, 1835, twenty - one proponents of Cherokee removal (Major Ridge, Elias Boudinot, James Foster, Testaesky, Charles Moore, George Chambers, Tahyeske, Archilla Smith, Andrew Ross (younger brother of Chief John Ross), William Lassley, Caetehee, Tegaheske, Robert Rogers, John Gunter, John A. Bell, Charles Foreman, William Rogers, George W. Adair, James Starr, and Jesse Halfbreed), signed or left "X" marks on the Treaty of New Echota after those present voted unanimously for its approval . John Ridge and Stand Watie signed the treaty when it was brought to Washington . Chief Ross, as expected, refused . </P> <P> This treaty gave up all the Cherokee land east of the Mississippi in return for five million dollars to be disbursed on a per capita basis, an additional half - million dollars for educational funds, title in perpetuity to an amount of land in Indian Territory equal to that given up, and full compensation for all property left in the East . There was also a clause in the treaty as signed allowing Cherokee who so desired to remain and become citizens of the states in which they resided on 160 acres (0.65 km) of land, but that was later stricken out by President Jackson . </P> <P> Despite the protests by the Cherokee National Council and principal Chief Ross that the document was a fraud, Congress ratified the treaty on May 23, 1836, by just one vote . </P> <P> The process of Cherokee removal took place in three stages . It began with the voluntary removal of those in favor of the treaty, who were willing to accept government support and move west on their own in the two years after the signing of the Treaty of New Echota in 1835 . Most of the Cherokee, including Chief John Ross, were outraged and unwilling to move, and they reacted with opposition . They did not believe the government would take any action against them if they elected to stay . However, the U.S. army was sent in, and the forced removal stage began . The Cherokee were herded violently into internment camps, where they were kept for the summer of 1838 . The actual transportation west was delayed by intense heat and drought, but in the fall, the Cherokee reluctantly agreed to transport themselves west under the supervision of Chief Ross in the reluctant removal stage . </P>

Who sold the louisiana territory to the united states apex