Indian Removal ActIndian Removal Act

Jackson’s “solution”Jackson’s “solution”

Native RelationsNative Relations

2 approaches 2 approaches

1)1) Displacement and Displacement and DispossessionDispossession

Take their land and possessionsTake their land and possessions

2) Conversion2) Conversion

Make them like whitesMake them like whites

““Civilized Tribes”Civilized Tribes”

5 “civilized” tribes:5 “civilized” tribes:1) Cherokee1) Cherokee2) Choctaw2) Choctaw3) Chickasaw3) Chickasaw4) Creek4) Creek5) Seminole5) Seminole

Were adapting to white ways, but whites Were adapting to white ways, but whites wanted their landwanted their land

INDIAN REMOVAL INDIAN REMOVAL ACT OF 1830ACT OF 1830

CONGRESS GAVE MONEY TO STATES CONGRESS GAVE MONEY TO STATES TO ALLOW THEM TO NEGOTIATE TO ALLOW THEM TO NEGOTIATE TREATIES TO PURCHASE LAND FROM TREATIES TO PURCHASE LAND FROM NATIVE TRIBESNATIVE TRIBES

Worcester v. GeorgiaWorcester v. Georgia

Cherokee tried to sue but had “no Cherokee tried to sue but had “no standing” in courtstanding” in court

A missionary helped natives bring A missionary helped natives bring their lawsuit to courttheir lawsuit to court

1832 – Cherokee ruled as a political 1832 – Cherokee ruled as a political community and GA could not community and GA could not regulate or invade landregulate or invade land

Jackson and Congress ignored rulingJackson and Congress ignored ruling

Treaty of New EchotaTreaty of New Echota

Some Cherokee favored peace and Some Cherokee favored peace and signed a treaty in 1835signed a treaty in 1835

Gave up 8 million acres for $5 million Gave up 8 million acres for $5 million and “land west”and “land west”

Not all Cherokee in agreement, many Not all Cherokee in agreement, many refused to abide by treatyrefused to abide by treaty

Trail of TearsTrail of Tears In 1838, 20,000 Cherokee remainedIn 1838, 20,000 Cherokee remained Van Buren ordered forced removalVan Buren ordered forced removal Army drove them into camps in Army drove them into camps in

groups of 1,000groups of 1,000 Traveled 800 miles, mostly on footTraveled 800 miles, mostly on foot ¼ died¼ died Whites stole their money & livestockWhites stole their money & livestock Ended up on inferior landEnded up on inferior land