What was a major consequence of the "Trail of Tears"?

The major consequence of the "Trail of Tears" was the forced removal of Indigenous peoples, specifically the Cherokee Nation, from their ancestral homelands in the southeastern United States to designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. This event resulted in significant loss of life, cultural dislocation, and the dismantling of established communities.

The correct answer relates to the completion of land sales to plantation owners because, following the removal of Native American tribes from fertile lands, these territories became available for settlement and agricultural exploitation, particularly by white settlers and plantation owners. Thus, the land that had once sustained Indigenous communities was repurposed for agricultural use, leading to the expansion of plantations and the increase of cotton production, which was vital to the Southern economy.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of this tragic event. The growth of the northern economy is less directly associated with the removal of Native Americans; tribal autonomy significantly decreased as a result of such forced removals, leading to greater government control over Native lands; and rather than strengthening Native American populations, the Trail of Tears led to devastating losses for those tribes, both in population and cultural integrity.