Indian Removal Act of 1830
A war hero and frontier man himself, Andrew Jackson was elected president of the United States in 1828. As president, he quickly worked to address the issue of Native Americans living on or near lands that were very close to settled areas of the United States. To take care of the issue and ensure that the Indians did not pose any problem or threat to settlers or the expansion of the United States, Jackson pushed for the Indian Removal Act to be pushed through Congress. With his support, the Indian Removal Act was signed into effect in May of 1830. The Indian Removal Act called for Native American tribes to abandon their land and homes east of the Mississippi River in exchange for the rights to land west of the Mississippi River. In his first annual message in 1829 Jackson stated that "This emigration should be voluntary, for it would be as cruel as unjust to compel the aboriginies to abandon the graves of their fathers and seek a home in a distant land". Despite peaceful intentions, the removal of Native American groups was in most cases anything but peaceful.
While some groups, such as the Choctaws, quickly negotiated and signed a treaty and moved westward to avoid confrontation with land hungry white settlers. Although this did occur, not all of the Indian groups agreed to the Indian Removal Act and many of them protested the call for their relocation. These groups, specifically the Cherokee and Seminoles, resisted and fought for years against removal from their land. Despite their efforts, military force was used against them and the groups were forced move westward. The Trail of Tears, the journey of thousands of Cherokee Indians on which about 4,000 died, is just one result of the passing of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
By the end of Jackson's presidency, approximately 46,000 Native Americans had been moved west of the Mississippi River. The relocation of the Native American tribes in the south alone opened up almost 25 million acres of land to white, American settlers.
While some groups, such as the Choctaws, quickly negotiated and signed a treaty and moved westward to avoid confrontation with land hungry white settlers. Although this did occur, not all of the Indian groups agreed to the Indian Removal Act and many of them protested the call for their relocation. These groups, specifically the Cherokee and Seminoles, resisted and fought for years against removal from their land. Despite their efforts, military force was used against them and the groups were forced move westward. The Trail of Tears, the journey of thousands of Cherokee Indians on which about 4,000 died, is just one result of the passing of the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
By the end of Jackson's presidency, approximately 46,000 Native Americans had been moved west of the Mississippi River. The relocation of the Native American tribes in the south alone opened up almost 25 million acres of land to white, American settlers.