How did the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians acquire the land that is now the Reservation?

The lands were held by the Indians at the time of removal (Indian Removal Act 1830-1839). Because many of these Indians were plantation owners with large fields and slaves to work them, politicians in that area convinced them to accept 'state citizenship' and avoid the removal act.

Those lands were later called reservation lands if they were within 100 miles of a line drawn on a map.