How Does Andrew Jackson Use Land As A Symbol Of Human Existence?

During westward expansion, land has played a key role in the existence of humans. It has been the individual thirst for power and expansion that causes humans to feel the need to gain land. Even in medieval times, one could not be considered nobel unless one had acquired land. In addition to seeing land as a powerful entity and a symbol of strength, it is also seen as necessary for the preservation of human existence. Infact, Andrew jackson in his address to congress on the Indian Removal Act, John. L O’Sullivan’s “Manifest Destiny”, and Stephen Ambrose’s piece, “Undaunted Courage” exemplify the belief that man depends on land. Throughout these texts these writers establish man’s relationship with the land as a sustaining force and as a necessity

One tribe in particular, The Nez Percé, utilized the land as a means of survival. They understood that the land was a necessary for them to survive. In his piece, “Undaunted Courage”, Stephen Ambrose writes, "The Nez Percé had seen the white soldiers hungry and fed them; seen them cold and provided fuel; seen them without horses and put them on mounts; seen them confused and provided good advice; seen them make fools of themselves trying to cross mountains ten feet deep in snow and not snickered; seen them lost and guided them”. Ambrose argues that the Native Americans used the land as a means of survival. By knowing and understanding the land, they ideally made themselves a necessity for Lewis and Clark. While this may not be seen as an immediate form of protection, it is indicative of the idea that by using the animals they acquired and learning the plateau region that they inhabited they became of use to these explorers. They remained amiable, using their land as a chess piece to

Furthermore, President Andrew Jackson felt so passionately about owning land that he was willing to forcibly remove the indigenous people from their natural land. In his address to congress on The Indian Removal Act he writes, “. By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power”. This captures the idea that by obtaining land Americans will be doing a greater deed than ridding the country of the “savage” Native Americans. While, his intent was selfish, Jackson revealed that by owning the land in the Midwest, America could achieve the greatness that they had been fighting for. Others might feel that the strongest relationship between land and man is a sacred bond that through religion. They might point to the idea that many Native American tribes felt attached to their land because of religious reasons. The indigenous believed that parts of god were displayed in nature. This reveals that the land is useful because it connects the people to their higher power. It acts as proxy from