Indian Removal Act

Name of Writer

Name of Institution

Table of Contents

Introduction3

Discussion3

Historical Background3

Indian Removal Act4

Public Opinion4

Effects on Indian Culture5

Conclusion5

End Notes6

Indian Removal Act

Introduction

Andrew Jackson was the seventh President of the United States from 1829 to 1837. He is well known for his chivalry, due to his aggressive and tough personality. He fought two battles before becoming the President as an Army General, one with the Indians at Battle at the Horseshoe Bend in 1814 and the second against the British at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815 and won both. It was his popularity for the protection of democracy and the removal of aristocracy that lead to the creation of the second part in the United States known as the Democrats or the Democratic Party. However, his support for slavery and the removal of the Indians from Southeast to West has been widely criticized by historians.

Discussion

Historical Background

During the early parts of the 19th century, the young, aspiring nation called the United States was growing at rapid pace. In order to keep pace with the growth in population the United States was also expanding in area moving from north to south. However, the early white settlers moving down south faced an obstacle, since this land was occupied by the Indian tribes such as Cherokee, Creek, Choctow, Seminoles etc. These Indian tribes posed a serious hurdle in the development of the new land and were seen by many white Americans as standing in the way of progress. This led to many wars between the Americans and the Indians which the Indians lost and had to retreat every time. For this purpose, the Indian even tried to assimilate and become like the white Americans but this only made the Americans more jealous and angry. While the Creek and the Seminoles tried to resist these foreigners by fighting violent and bloody wars, but the Cherokee tribe attempted to use the legal way out. However, they were turned down twice by the state of Georgia Court and the Supreme Court as well. Nonetheless, they went to the Supreme Court again after a Georgia state law prohibited whites from living in the Indian Territory. This time the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Cherokee's and asked for the removal of all white from their territory, and giving the Indian's the right to self government. However, the state of Georgia refused to accept the Supreme Court's decision and the ...