Focus Question: Why Did Jackson Use Force to Remove Native Americans from the Southeast?

“Indian Removal” * * * * * * * * * * * * Focus Question: Why did Jackson use force to remove Native Americans from the Southeast?

*Andrew Jackson had great popularity for his victories as a general over Native Americans in the Southeast. As President, he worked to remove them from their homelands there.

Native Americans of the Southeast *When Jackson became President more than 100,000 Native Americans lived east of the Mississippi River including the Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Seminole and Creek nations. Many were farmers or lived in towns. *The Cherokees had adopted some white customs. In addition to farming, some ran successful businesses, had their own schools, and some could speak and read English. Many had converted to Christianity. *Sequoyah, a learned Cherokee leader, had even created a written alphabet for their language. *In 1827, the Cherokees established a gov't based on a written constitution and claimed status as a separate nation and started a newspaper.

Conflict Over Land *The presence of Native Americans in the Southeast stood in the way of westward expansion and white farmers wanted the fertile land Native Americans lived on for growing cotton. Forced Movement *Policies to move Native Americans from their land dated from the presidency of Thomas Jefferson (who hoped their move would be voluntary) to the treaties signed after the War of 1812 where Native Americans gave up their lands and moved west of the Mississippi River. *Native Americans in the Southeast would not move and pressure on them to move continued to grow until white southerners were demanding that Native Americans be removed by force. *In 1825 and 1827, Georgia passed a law forcing first Creeks and then Cherokees to give up their land. The state said the Cherokees were not a separate nation and had to move off their land. Support for Native Americans *Georgia's actions were challenged in two suits before the Supreme Court. 1. Cherokee Nation v. Georgia - went against the Cherokees and the Court refused to stop GA from enforcing its law. 2. Worcester v. Georgia - ruled that Georgia's laws can "have no force" within Cherokee Territory. *Chief Justice Marshall quoted several treaties made by the United States and guaranteeing certain territory to the Native Americans. Under the Constitution, treaties are supreme and Georgia had no say over the Cherokee Territory. *Jackson wanted the Native Americans removed and was furious with Marshall's ruling stating, "Let him enforce it!" Jackson was already putting a law into effect called The Indian Removal Act of 1830. This gave Jackson the authority to offer Native American nations the land west of the Mississippi River in exchange for their lands to the east of it. It also provided money for the law to be carried out.

On the Trail of Tears *Native American leaders signed the treaties believing they had no choice. They agreed to move to what was called Indian Territory in what is now Oklahoma. Removal of the Choctaws *The Choctaws signed the treaty in 1830 and, closely guarded by American soldiers, moved west between 1831 and 1833. *Not enough tents, food or supplies were provided and heavy rain and snow caused enormous suffering. Cherokee Removal *The Cherokees held out until after Jackson was out of office. President Martin Van Buren, in 1838, forced the Cherokees to move. *In the winter of 1838-39 they were guarded by 7,000 soldiers and followed a route now called the Trail of Tears as they were forced to march hundreds of miles with little food or shelter. Of the 15,000 Cherokees who began the trip, 4,000 died along the way. *The Seminoles fought three wars against removal. However in the 1840s they too, were forced out and into Indian Territory. Chapter 10-4 Review Questions

What were some of the customs and ways of life of the Cherokees?

Many converted to Christianity, spoke English and ran businesses.

According to Marshall, why was Georgia barred from applying its laws to Cherokee territory?

Marshall said that the Cherokees had a right tot heir land because they were a Native American tribe that had treaties with the United States. The state of Georgia could not violate federal laws and treaties.

What mistakes in planning did the government make before removing Native Americans?

It did not provide enough tents, food, blankets, shoes, winter clothers, or other supplies.