Five Civilized Tribes Enslave Thousands of Black People

The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations practiced chattel slavery modeled on Anglo-American practices, holding an estimated 8,000–10,000 enslaved Black people by 1860. The Cherokee and Choctaw nations had slave codes prohibiting education, restricting movement, and banning intermarriage. When the Five Tribes were forcibly relocated via the Trail of Tears (1830–1838), they brought their enslaved people with them to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). The Seminole situation was more complex — some Black Seminoles had significant autonomy. After the Civil War, the tribes were required by treaty to emancipate their enslaved people and grant them citizenship.