Freedmen is one of the terms given to emancipated slaves and their descendants after slavery was abolished in the United States following the American Civil War . In this context , " Cherokee Freedmen " refers to the African-American men and women who were formerly slaves of the Cherokee before and after removal to Indian Territory and the American Civil War . It includes the descendants of such former slaves , as well as those born in unions between formerly enslaved or enslaved African Americans and Cherokee tribal members
removal to Indian Territory
Trail of Tears
Cherokee freedmen controversy