The Cherokees did not resist with force, realizing that they never could defeat the Americans if they went to war. 2000 Cherokees died in "The Trail of Tears" when they traveled west.
The Mexican American War (April 25 1846- February 2 1868), resulted in the Mexican Cession, Including present-day California. Following the war, The Gadsden Purchase was completed.
Gadsden Purchase, 1854
At news of Gold in San Fransisco, thousands of settlers rushed towards California. One of them was John C. Fremont, who hade made himself famous by mapping out the new lands.
The last resister against the U.S. was Apache Chief Geronimo. He began his assault against the U.S. by attacking the settlers and their wagons bound for California when they came near his land.
From 1850-1877, Geronimo began a war with the U.S. In 1877 he was defeated and sent to a reservation
Geronimo escaped the reservation in 1881, but became a prisoner of war in 1886. His defeat marked the end of Native American Resistance, and solved the question of Who's Land is it? It was the Americans. The Natives, who were banished to reservations tell tales of how unfair the whole ordeal was.