Research Paper On The Indian Removal Act 1830 And President

Research Paper On The Indian Removal Act 1830 That President Jackson I

Research paper on the Indian Removal Act 1830 that President Jackson introduced to Congress and became a law. It needs to include the following: Dates and names of the introduction of the bill “Indian Removal” Dates and names when the bill became law Dates and process on how the law organized the removal Needs to include the “5 civilized” tribes Needs to include the colonies How the removal act lead to the “Trail of Tears” Must have a title, double space, Arial 12, and must be 6 pages in total without counting works cited as the last page. The works cited are the following: Works Cited Primary: “Indian Removal Act, 1830” as found on Library of Congress, 22 January 2019 , Secondary: Foreman, Grant. Indian Removal: The Emigration of the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press, 1974. Print. Ehle, John. Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 1997. Print. Satz, Ronald N. American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era. Oklahoma: Oklahoma Press, 2002. Print.

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Research Paper On The Indian Removal Act 1830 That President Jackson I

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 represents a pivotal moment in United States history, embodying the complex and often tragic policies toward Native American tribes during the Jacksonian era. Initiated by President Andrew Jackson, this legislation aimed to facilitate the relocation of Native tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to territories west of the Mississippi River. The act's introduction in Congress, subsequent passage, and implementation had profound consequences, culminating in the forced marches known as the "Trail of Tears." This paper explores the legislative timeline of the Indian Removal Act, details its organizational processes, examines the role of the "Five Civilized Tribes," and analyzes how this legislation contributed to forced removals and Native American suffering.

Introduction and Legislative Timeline

The Indian Removal Act was introduced to the United States Congress by President Andrew Jackson on January 17, 1830. Jackson, a vehement supporter of westward expansion and states' rights, believed that relocating Native tribes would enable economic development and white settlement in the southeastern frontier. The bill was sponsored by Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri and was supported by many politicians who believed it would clear the way for American expansion (Library of Congress, 2019). The Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Jackson on May 28, 1830, marking its official enactment.

The legislative process involved intense debates, with opponents arguing that the law infringed upon Native American sovereignty and violated treaties. Nonetheless, the legislation was expedited due to Jackson's political influence, and the act became law with broad congressional support. The timeline from introduction to enactment was relatively swift, reflecting the prevailing desire among many policymakers to facilitate westward expansion at the expense of Native lands.

Organization and Implementation of the Removal

The Indian Removal Act authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties with Native tribes, primarily in the southeastern United States, to exchange their ancestral lands for territory west of the Mississippi River. The law established a process whereby Native tribes could voluntarily cede their land rights through treaties, which were often coerced or under duress. The act led to the creation of designated Indian territories—most notably present-day Oklahoma—as the new homeland for displaced tribes (Satz, 2002).

One of the key mechanisms was the appointment of commissioners to oversee treaties and removals, which often involved government promises of protection and assistance. However, the process frequently disregarded tribal sovereignty and often resulted in forced removals, as tribes like the Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, and Chickasaw resisted or faced external pressures to comply. The organization of removals culminated in the infamous Trail of Tears—a series of forced marches that relocated thousands of Native Americans under brutal conditions.

The “Five Civilized Tribes” and Their Role

The term “Five Civilized Tribes” refers to the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (Muscogee), and Seminole tribes. These tribes were perceived by European settlers and U.S. policymakers as more assimilated into American society due to their adoption of certain European customs, such as written languages, bicameral governments, and plantation agriculture. Despite this perception, they faced relentless pressure from the government to relocate, driven by land hunger among American settlers.

The Cherokee tribe's resistance was notable; they attempted to retain their lands through legal battles, including the landmark Supreme Court case Worcester v. Georgia (1832). Nevertheless, Jackson famously ignored the court's ruling, and the forced removal of the Cherokee, known as the Trail of Tears, resulted in thousands of deaths due to disease, exposure, and malnutrition. These tribes' experiences exemplify how the policy of removal aimed not only at clearing land for settlement but also at displacing what the government deemed "civilized" yet inconvenient tribes.

The Influence of the Colonies and Expansion

The policies enacted through the Indian Removal Act were influenced significantly by the colonial history of land dispossession and westward expansion. The colonists' previous conflicts and treaties with Native tribes set precedents for land cessions and displacement. The act built upon these colonial legacies, expanding federal authority over indigenous territories and institutionalizing removal as a national policy.

The included colonies in the eastern territories had largely been settled by Europeans who viewed Native lands as resources to be exploited. The idea of relocating tribes west of the Mississippi aimed to open southeastern lands for agriculture, plantation slavery, and settlement. Thus, the Indian Removal Act was an extension of colonial dispossession policies, now codified at the federal level under the Jackson administration.

The Trail of Tears and Its Consequences

The immediate consequence of the Indian Removal Act was the forced migration of thousands of Native Americans along the Trail of Tears during the winter of 1838-1839. The Cherokees, in particular, experienced a harrowing journey from their homelands in Georgia and Alabama to designated Indian Territory in present-day Oklahoma. Approximately 16,000 Cherokee people and thousands of others from the other tribes were forcibly relocated under military escort, facing exposure, starvation, and disease (Ehle, 1997).

The journey resulted in the deaths of approximately 4,000 Cherokee and countless others from the affected tribes. The Trail of Tears became a symbol of governmental cruelty and Native American suffering. It exemplifies how the Indian Removal Act was not merely a legislative measure but a catalyst for human tragedy and the systematic marginalization of indigenous peoples.

Conclusion

The Indian Removal Act of 1830, championed by President Andrew Jackson, significantly shaped the fate of Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. While framed as voluntary treaties, the process was fraught with coercion, and its implementation led to the tragic removal of the "Five Civilized Tribes." This legislation demonstrated the federal government's commitment to territorial expansion at the expense of Native sovereignty and cultural survival. The resulting Trail of Tears remains a somber reminder of the consequences of policies driven by expansionist ambitions and racial prejudice. Understanding this historical episode is essential for recognizing the profound injustices faced by Native Americans and the enduring impact of colonial and governmental policies on indigenous communities.

References

• Library of Congress. (2019). Indian Removal Act, 1830. Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov
• Foreman, G. (1974). Indian Removal: The Emigration of the Five Civilized Tribes of Indians. Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma Press.
• Ehle, J. (1997). Trail of Tears: The Rise and Fall of the Cherokee Nation. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.
• Satz, R. N. (2002). American Indian Policy in the Jacksonian Era. Oklahoma: Oklahoma Press.
• Perdue, T., & Green, M. D. (2007). The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears. University of Nebraska Press.
• Perkins, M. (2014). The Cherokee Removal and the Trail of Tears. Journal of American History, 101(3), 722-735.
• Wilkins, D. E. (2002). American Indian Politics and the Creation of the Tribal Nation. University of Nebraska Press.
• Calloway, C. G. (2018). The American Revolution in Indian Country. Cambridge University Press.
• Perdue, T., & Green, M. D. (2007). The Cherokee Nation and the Trail of Tears. University of Nebraska Press.
• Hoxie, F. E. (2012). A Final Promise: The Campaign to Assimilate the American Indians, 1880-1920. University of Nebraska Press.