Which event involved the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that recognized the sovereign powers of the Cherokee Indians?

The event that recognized the sovereign powers of the Cherokee Indians is Worcester v. Georgia. In this landmark case decided in 1832, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice John Marshall, ruled that the state of Georgia had no authority to impose its laws within Cherokee territory, affirming the sovereignty of the Cherokee Nation. This ruling recognized that the federal government had exclusive authority over Indian affairs and highlighted the political autonomy of the Cherokee Nation. The decision was significant as it attempted to protect Cherokee lands and rights against state encroachment, although it was not effectively enforced by the state of Georgia or the federal government, leading to further injustices like the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears.

In contrast, the other events listed do not primarily focus on the recognition of Cherokee sovereignty. The Trail of Tears refers to the forced relocation of the Cherokee people following the Indian Removal Act, which occurred despite the Supreme Court's ruling. Cherokee Nation v. Georgia was an earlier case that addressed the status of the Cherokee Nation but did not result in the same recognition of sovereignty as Worcester. The Seminole War involved conflict primarily between U.S. forces and the Seminole Tribe, not directly related to the legal status of the Cherokee Nation.