Which Supreme Court decision held that Cherokee Indians could not be forced from their land by Georgia law?

• A. Marbury v. Madison
• B. Worcester v. Georgia
• C. Dred Scott v. Sandford
• D. McCulloch v. Maryland

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is understanding who has the power to handle relations with Native nations. Worcester v. Georgia established that Cherokee lands were under federal protection, not subject to Georgia’s state laws. The Court said the state could not force the Cherokees from their territory or impose its laws there because only the federal government can regulate relations with Native nations and honor treaties with them. This decision recognizes the Cherokee Nation as a distinct political community with its own sovereignty within U.S. borders.

The ruling is notable for asserting federal authority over state actions in matters involving Native peoples, and for prioritizing the protection of tribal lands and rights, even though it was not effectively enforced at the time and removal proceeded anyway. For contrast, the other cases involve different constitutional issues: one established judicial review, another dealt with citizenship and slavery, and another upheld federal supremacy in its own realm. But Worcester v. Georgia is the one that centers on tribes’ sovereignty and the federal government’s role in their protection.