Indian Removal Act passed

On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act. The act authorized Johnson to exchange federal lands in the West for Indian lands in the American Southeast. While some tribes gave up their lands peacefully, others resisted. The “Trail of Tears” killed approximately 4,000 Cherokees in a forced march into the West.

Learn more about the Indian Removal Act from the US Library of Congress.

THIS DAY @ LAW

US signed peace treaty with Germany ending World War I

On August 25, 1921, the United States, which never ratified the Versailles Treaty ending World War I, finally signed its own peace treaties with Germany, Austria and Hungary.

Former East Germany leader convicted of manslaughter for Berlin Wall policy

On August 25, 1997, Egon Krenz, the former of East Germany was convicted of manslaughter for promulgating a policy of shooting any East Germans who attempted to cross the Berlin Wall. Krenz was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison, of which he served four before being released into retirement from political life.