Because Cherokees were forced to learn the ways of the "whites" and they learned how to read, write, and speak english. They also were forced to dress like them! They put makeup on the indians so they were white and not dark colored. The only way they adapted and were not forced into american culture was that the indians made their own constitution and their own capital copyrighting it from the americans. Later on the americans tore it down sadly! :(