Native American Removal Act Essay

The Unjust Native Removal Act of 1830 The Native American Removal Act of 1830 represented a significant and unjust moment in American history. The act, which was signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. This relocation, which is often referred to as the Trail of Tears, was a traumatic experience for many Native Americans, resulting in the loss of lives, cultural heritage, and freedoms. Many Americans are unaware of the atrocities committed against Native Americans, and the impact of the act on Native American communities is often dismissed or minimized. However,

The birth of Westward expansion and Manifest Destiny in the United States can be traced back to the early 19th century when the country was still in its infancy. Manifest destiny is the belief that it was America’s mission to expand from coast to coast, and to spread its political, social, and economic systems to new lands. This belief evolved into the driving force behind westward expansion, and the American government adapted many policies and actions to make it a reality (Policarpo). One of the most significant events that marked the beginning of westward expansion was the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. The idea that it was the destiny of the American people to expand and conquer new lands was viewed as a divine mission, and it became a popular rallying cry for politicians, intellectuals, and common citizens alike. When the United States government bought the territory from France, it doubled the size of the country overnight while opening up massive new areas for settlement and

The trail was a result of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which allowed the American government to forcibly remove Natives from their lands in the southeast and move them to territories west of the Mississippi. This was a dark chapter in American history and a reminder of the devastating effects of manifest destiny and the forced displacement of indigenous peoples (Bertolet). The Cherokee tribe suffered the most during the relocation. The Cherokee had a very rich culture and a long history of their life in the southeast. They had a written language, complex social structure, and even a thriving economy. Despite their contributions to American society, they were seen as an obstacle to the American dream of manifest destiny (Bertolet). The Trail of Tears resulted in a huge loss for the Cherokee. Their removal from their homeland caused immense suffering, since they were forced to leave their whole lives behind. The journey was long and tough, and many tribe members died to starvation, exposure to new elements, and disease. It is believed that between 2,000 and 8,000 Cherokee died during the journey (Bertolet). The trail was an atrocious experience for the Cherokee tribe which was made even worse by the harsh conditions they were not used to.