In the 1820s , Georgia passed an act making Georgia state law applicable on all Cherokee lands and declaring all laws of the Cherokee nation void . This contradicted federal treaties with the Cherokees , effectively nullifying those federal treaties . Georgia 's actions were reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court in '' Worcester v. Georgia '' , 31 U.S. ( 6 Pet . ) 515 ( 1832 ) . While the case was pending in the Supreme Court , the Georgia legislature passed a resolution asserting that under the Tenth Amendment , the federal government had no jurisdiction over Georgia criminal law and the Supreme Court 's review of the case was unconstitutional . The Supreme Court rejected Georgia 's attempt to nullify the federal treaties with the Cherokees . The Court held that " according to the settled principles of our Constitution " , authority over Indian affairs is " committed exclusively to the government of the Union " . The Court held that under the federal treaties with the Cherokees , " the laws of Georgia can have no force " on Cherokee land . The Court held that Georgia 's laws regulating Cherokee land were " void , as being repugnant to the constitution , treaties , and laws of the United States " . The Supreme Court thus asserted final authority to interpret the Constitution and federal treaties , rejecting Georgia 's nullification attempt . Georgia refused to accept the Supreme Court 's decision . President Andrew Jackson did not believe Georgia had the right to nullify federal law , but was sympathetic to Georgia 's goal of forcing the Cherokees to relocate to the west . He took no immediate action against Georgia . Before the Supreme Court could hear a request for an order enforcing its judgment , the Nullification Crisis arose in South Carolina . Jackson wanted to avoid a confrontation with Georgia over states ' rights . A compromise was brokered under which Georgia repealed the law at issue in '' Worcester '' . Despite the Court 's decision finding Georgia 's actions unconstitutional , Georgia continued to enforce other laws regulating the Cherokees . Ultimately the Cherokees were forced to agree to a treaty of relocation , leading to the Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Trail of Tears
Nullification (U.S. Constitution)