“Neither pleasure nor pain should enter as motives when one does what needs to be done,” said the famous, Italian philosopher and esotericist, Julius Evola, in his book, “Ride The Tiger”. Evola’s logic in that quote is very Machiavellian, ignoring both the plight or advantages of an action, due to the action’s perceived necessity; In other words, “the end justifies the means”. That Machiavellian logic is exactly what propelled America’s westward expansion. Andrew Jackson occupied the presidency during a busting time for America’s westward expansion, and is regarded as a major conductor for the expansion due to his Indian removal policy, in which he resettled the Indians by exchanging with them lands west of the Mississippi River for their lands. Publically, Andrew Jackson spoke highly of the Indians, but his private stance on them was much less flattering. As shown by the contrast between Andrew Jackson’s views …show more content…
Machiavelli is one the most well-known philosophers of Italy’s period of renaissance, both during his lifetime and long after. His most prominent work, “The Prince” outlines qualities to be had by a successful leader, according to Machiavelli. There are many of these qualities, but the one most embodied by Andrew Jackson is the dedication to keep one’s true intentions secret, while telling people what they want to hear. Speaking publically to the Mandan Nation, roughly twenty years before the trail of tears, Andrew Jackson deceitfully portrayed himself to the Indian tribe as a man who cared for and would protect them, going so far as to take a paternal position by referring to them throughout the speech as his children. Jackson welcomed them to the government’s seat, implying that he would be their representative in Washington, and expressed a transcendence of both the Indians and the European-Americans from their native identities to a new, cooperative