The native policies of George Washington were formed on the basis of whether a native tribe was a supporter or an enemy of the United States. Following the American Revolution, George Washington, with the consent of Congress, ordered Major General John Sullivan to obliterate the Onondaga, Cayuga, and Seneca (three of the six native tribes of the Iroquois Confederacy who allied with Great Britain during the American Revolution). Despite this fact, George Washington maintained peaceful relations with Native American that supported the United States. For example, Georgia formed treaties with the Creeks that resulted in the cession of land which was not recognized by the Creeks. This issue was resolved by the Treaty of New York, which restored …show more content…
Contrary to popular belief, Thomas Jefferson was the one who proposed the idea of the Indian Removal Act. The proposal was made when native tribes refused to integrate and adapt to American lifestyle (assimilation). In fact, Jefferson stated, “if we are constrained to lift the hatchet against any tribe, we will never lay it down until that tribe is exterminated, or driven beyond the Mississippi.” As president, Jefferson made an agreement with Georgia to relinquish their claim of land in the west in return that the United States army would force the Cherokee from Georgia. However, the agreement was demolished because the United States had formed a treaty with the Cherokee granting them the right to their lands. As for Monroe, he commission Andrew Jackson to destroy the Seminole native tribe of Florida. When comparing the native policies of Jefferson and Monroe to Andrew Jackson many similarities are discovered, however, one difference rises above all. The native policies of Jefferson and Monroe were based upon the expansion of the United States to west and the protection of frontier settlers. On the other hand, Jackson’s native policies were dependent upon his personal bias against Native Americans; which he formed as a young boy when his family was attacked by native British allies during the American