Why did cheokees feel they had a right to act as an independent nation?

The Cherokees believed they had the right to act as an independent nation due to their long-established sovereignty, governance systems, and cultural identity. They had treaties with the U.S. government that recognized their autonomy and land rights. Additionally, the Cherokees developed their own legal and political structures, further asserting their status as a distinct nation. This belief in their sovereignty was a key factor in their resistance to forced removal from their ancestral lands.