Why did some cherokee leaders accept the treaty of new echota?

The Treaty of Echota was not an easy thing for the Cherokee to accept. It took land away from them and forced Cherokee people to move west. It was the basis of what became known as the "Trail of Tears," as the Cherokee were forced to relocate from northern Georgia to what was assigned as "Indian territory" west of the Mississippi River.

The Cherokee people were weary of losing in legal battles with the US government. Major Ridge, who was a member of the Cherokee Council, looked for his sons to be the future leaders of the Cherokee. Those two sons believed accepting the treaty and moving west was the only way for the Cherokee to have peace. Even though Major Ridge really only represented a small faction within the Cherokee nation, the US government signed the treaty with him and enforced the relocation of the people.