The Indian Removal Act authorized Jackson to give the Indians land west of the Mississippi in exchange for their land in the states, but could not force them to leave. He violated and broke commitments that he even negotiated with them. He tried to bribe the Indians and even threatened some of them. Alfred Cave organizes his article thematically and is trying to prove
One of many atrocities that Jackson committed was the forceful removal of thousands of Indians and the subsequent death of many of them. Although his reasoning, as is stated in his Message to Congress "On Indian Removal," was
Jackson’s Native American policies were very undemocratic because they decreased the power of the people. Document 9 states that the Native Americans have reasons to stay on their land, one being that the land west of the Arkansas Territory is unknown to them. Another is that the region is poorly supplied with food and water and that the new neighbors have different customs and a totally different language. Finally, they wish to remain on the land in which their ancestors died and where they were buried. The evidence helps explain that Andrew Jackson’s Native American policy was very undemocratic because the Native Americans had four very good reasons for staying on their homeland.
Remini stated, “Removal was meant to prevent annihilation, not cause it” (286). Jackson had ordered many army troops to make sure white intruders are not on Indian lands and if they were, the army had consent to destroy their cabin and fields. Whites were not afraid of the Indians anymore over land even if they knew they were wrong, they accepted what was done. In the southeast, Indians and whites were having difficulties being together since whites were demolishing the Indian tribe’s lifestyle. Indians had a choice to stay or leave, but if Indians decided to stay Jackson could not guarantee that they would be able to have their own laws and practices.
President Andrew Jackson described the Indian Removal Act as an advantage that would bring obvious benefits to the lives of the Native Americans people, when in reality they were taking away the hunting grounds and ancestral lands of the people. The Native Americans were given the choice of assimilating to American ways and religions or to evacuate their properties and take part of the removal. The government believed that the first two tribes that do agree to be removed might be used as an example to induce other tribes to seek the same “Obvious
Although this act was harsh, to some it overshadows the good that Jackson did. In the source: Letter from Elias Boudinot, Cherokee Indian, Elias says, “Removal, then, is the only remedy, the only practical remedy. Our people may finally rise from their very ashes, to become prosperous and happy, and a credit to our race.” The quote is from a Cherokee Indian agreeing that the removal might be the best thing for the Native Americans. Andrew Jackson is a hero because he worked to bring more democracy to the
Throughout the early 19th century, changing politics and an evolving society in America impacted all classes of people, specifically the white working class. Jacksonian Democratic ideals was influenced by the working class, and the white working class benefited from President Jackson’s decisions. During the year of Jackson’s presidential election, the Workies, which consisted of working men, wanted to protect individuals who earned money from arduous labor, but failed to make payments punctually. Jacksonian Democrats realized the Workies language was valuable in the fact that beliefs of the Workies group echoed through Jackson’s party.
In the Andrew Jackson speech to congress on indian removal, It talks about the reasons why they should be removed. Andrew Jackson's main reason why they should be removed is because of westward expansion and how it's the whites turn to develop the land. He also says how it will benefit both people even though it would actually make the Indians life worse. I thought it was interesting how they thought the Indians were the problem on westward expansion. In their eyes they thought whites and Indians couldn't mix.
Jackson and other supporters claimed that if the Indians stayed east of the Mississippi, they would eventually become extinct. White settlers would continually invade their land destroying Indian life and culture. Jackson argued that if they moved west of the Mississippi, it would solve both their issue as well as preserving
The Creek Indians were defeated and forced to sign treaties that would relinquish twenty-million acres of land. In Jacksons presidency, he was approved by Congress to fulfill the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act granted land exchange which placed the natives in new property under U.S. protection. “Jackson and his followers were free to persuade, bribe, and threaten tribes into signing removal treaties and leaving the Southeast.”, he succeeded to where 50,000 eastern Indians were moved. Soldiers escorted the natives to their new territory.
Andrew Jackson’s sentiment towards the Native Americans was certainly not a kind one. Manifest destiny was a popular belief among Americans, including Jackson, and he would go to the extent of forcing Native Americans out of their homes to reach their “ordained goal”. He believed in the expansion of southern slavery which is why he pushed for removing the Indians west of the Mississippi, which makes it the more disgraceful. The Indian Removal Act of 1830 said that it will allow American government to offer in-state territories to the Indian’s for their western land. This wasn’t the case when the U.S. went in and drove the Indians out by force.
He believed Jackson needed a reality check. The Indians were there first, it was their land. He force the Natives to move away from their homeland, with brute force. He believes Jackson could not justify his actions just because it was for America’s benefit. He also stated Jackson refused to listen to many people, and he refused to let Indians live.
Andrew Jackson has been remembered as a ground breaking president, even being put on the $20. President Jackson was a controversial figure, doing many popular and unpopular things in his time. Although he is remembered as a hero from the war of 1812, he also caused the Trail of Tears and tried to destroy the National Bank. As a result, Jackson should not be put on the $20 bill. His actions have caused many misfortune showing that villains do exist.
The government tried to force assimilation on Native Americans as well as an attempt to “kill the indian, save the man.” These ideas and policies are similar to those popular during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. Jackson developed a sense of ‘paternalism’ towards indians and believed he was saving them by forcing them to live out west of the Mississippi river away from white culture. The difference was that Jackson did not believe in assimilation of indians into white culture, he believed they should be kept separate. With the help of the Federal government removing indians from land west of the Mississippi, Americans were
But the actual policy of the administration was to encouraged removal by all possible means, fair or foul. Jackson as usual spoke publicly in a tone of friendship and concern for Indian welfare. In a letter of instruction to an agent who was to visit the Choctaws on October 1829 (evened before the Removal Act was passed) he outlined the message from “their father,” the President, urging them to emigrate. The threats were veiled. “They and my white children are too near each other to live in harmony and peace.”