12.2 Indian Removal Main Idea During Jackson’s presidency, Native Americans were forced to move west of the Mississippi River. Why It Matters Now This forced removal forever changed the lives of Native Americans in the United States.

Standards 8.8.1 Discuss the election of Andrew Jackson as president in 1828, the importance of Jacksonian democracy, and his actions as president (e.g., the spoils system, veto of the National Bank, policy of Indian removal, and opposition to the Supreme Court). 8.8.2 Describe the purpose, challenges, and economic incentives associated with westward expansion, including the concept of Manifest Destiny (e.g., the Lewis and Clark expedition, accounts of the removal of Indians, the Cherokees’ “Trail of Tears” settlement of the Great Plains) and the territorial acquisitions that spanned numerous decades.

Daily Guided Questions What were some of the customs and ways of life of the Cherokees? Explain the President Jackson’s respond to the Supreme Courts rulings about the Cherokee Nation. What mistakes in planning did the government make before removing Native Americans?

Native Americans of the Southeast Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek. -Lived in parts of Mississippi, Alabama, N. Georgia, N.W. North Carolina, S. Tennessee. Seminoles of Florida, blend of Creek and escaped African American slaves. Most adopted white customs, were farmers or lived in towns. -Known as the Five Civilized Tribes.

Cherokee Farmers, some owned businesses. Educated, some spoke, read, and could write in English. -Sequoyah, learned leader invented their own alphabet. Some converted to Christianity. Government similar to the USA. -constitution-based government.

Daily Guided Question What were some of the customs and ways of life of the Cherokees? Answer: Many converted to Christianity, spoke English, ran businesses, and created a government with a constitution.

Conflict Over Land Native Americans lived on fertile farm land, gold found on some of that land. Most policies wished for voluntary movement or assimilation (blending of cultures). Treaties signed asked Native Americans to move off their lands. By the late-1820’s most state laws forced Native Americans off their land.

Support for Native Americans Supreme Court decisions. -Cherokee Nation v. Georgia, 1831. -Worcester v. Georgia, 1832. -Most treaties guaranteed certain territories to Native Americans, so Georgia couldn’t remove them. -Andrew Jackson said, “[the court] made their decision, now let [them] enforce it.” Indian Remove Act of 1830. -exchanged their land for land west of the Mississippi River and 5 million dollars.

Daily Guided Question Explain President Jackson’s response to the Supreme Court’s rulings about the Cherokee Nation. Answer: He was furious and disregarded the rulings by removing the Native Americans from the Southeast anyways.

Trail of Tears 800-mile trip west made on foot. Native Amer. robbed by everyone, 30% die from exposure, disease, and starvation.

The use of the federal troops to assist removal. Not enough supplies for the trips. -Few tents, food, blankets, shoes, & winter clothes, etc. Five Native American nations forced to move, over 100, 000 people. Seminoles fought three wars, but ultimately moved.

Daily Guided Questions What mistakes in planning did the government make before removing Native Americans? Answer: Not enough supplies for the trips, done during the coldest part of the winter and hottest part of the summer.