In the early 1800s, the United States government began attempts to eliminate various Indian tribes in the Southeast.
The government historically used treaties to relocate Native Americans, a practice further enforced by the Indian Removal Act in 1830. If this approach failed, the government would disregard both treaties and court rulings to settle other American citizens, like Europeans. This essay will examine the timing and reasoning behind the Indian Removal Act's enactment and explore its implications, along with the consequences that followed. As American settlers sought land in the southern backcountry, they encountered a significant hurdle: Indian tribes already residing there. Consequently, these settlers appealed to the government for their removal (Vander, 2010). Andrew Jackson led an expedition against the Indians resulting in their defeat. This victory paved the way for a ten-year campaign of forcibly remo
...ving Native Americans.
President Jackson persuaded Congress to pass the Removal Act of 1830, which aimed to relocate Native Americans from their lands. The act, enacted on May 28, 1830, offered land west of the Mississippi River as an alternative for Native Americans who agreed to give up their ancestral territories. To support their resettlement and new beginning, they were provided with incentives such as financial and material aid. Moreover, the U.S. government promised ongoing protection in their new territory. The tribes affected by this policy were the Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Choctaw.
The decision to relocate tribes, like the Cherokee, was strongly opposed by them. They resisted the relocation for a long time, but eventually some chose to accept the displacement and losses while others continued to resist. Despite their ongoing opposition, especially from the Cherokee tribe, they faced penalties, harassment,
and attempts of forced removal. The U.S government also undermined their financial system and subjected them to assault, harassment, and imprisonment. In addition, their press was confiscated and possessions seized (Sreenivasan, 2009). The U.S government aimed to further confine the Indians and even faced legal challenges from the Cherokee tribe regarding limitations on tribal land.
In 1832, the Supreme Court changed its stance and affirmed that Indian tribes held sovereignty and were not subject to Georgia's laws. Nevertheless, the president disregarded this verdict by securing a signature from a Cherokee chief as an endorsement for relocation. Nonetheless, this signature indicated a division among the people, as numerous individuals still wished to retain their land.
Overall, the president and his followers found it relatively easy to manipulate and influence tribes to sign treaties, allowing for their removal from the southeast. Through the use of coerced treaties and disregarding previously agreed upon agreements, along with court rulings in their favor, the government effectively facilitated westward expansion. This also involved incorporating new territories into the United States. In summary, it is clear that the signing of this Act played a significant role in the removal of Indian tribes from the Southeast.
Despite the strong efforts made by the Indian tribes to prevent relocation, their actions ended up increasing the pressure on them to move forcefully. The signing of the Act caused significant inconvenience and pain to the tribes, especially to those like the Cherokee who resisted. From my perspective, the Act was inappropriate as it aimed to forcefully remove the Indian tribes. The government should have explored more humane approaches, such as engaging in deliberate agreements with the tribes for their
relocation.
As it was, it was inhuman and unfair to them as the government even defied court rules only for selfish gains.
Reference
- Vander, H. S. (2010). Trail of Tears. Edina, Minn: ABDO Pub.
- Sreenivasan, J. (2009). Poverty and the government in America: A historical encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO.
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