Which of the following provided the first step in uniting the divided cherokee nation after the civil war?

a.
the election of lewis downing as chief in 1867
b.
the death of chief john ross
c.
the cession of cherokee lands to the us and other tribes
d.
the election of william potter ross as chief in 1866

The correct answer is A. The first step in uniting the divided Cherokee Nation after the Civil War was the election of Lewis Downing as chief in 1867.

During the Civil War, the Cherokee Nation was divided between those who supported the Union and those who supported the Confederation. Chief Ross and his group supported the Confederation, while the Southern Cherokee supported the Union. In this way, there was great enmity between both groups.

But after the Civil War, Lewis Downing began a process of reunification of the Cherokee Nation, after being elected Chief in 1867.