Indian Policy Jackson wanted to open up lands to Americans – lands with fertile soil for cash crops- from Georgia to the Mississippi – they found gold in Georgia too. Jackson pressured Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 – a law authorizing the removal of Natives (Saux, Fox and 5 Civilized Tribes) west of the Mississippi to the newly established Indian Territory. Congress also established the Bureau of Indian Affairs to handle reservations. 5 Civilized Tribes – Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, and Cherokee.

Native Resistance The Seminole resisted- Second Seminole War lasted for years against U.S. troops in Florida – the U.S. army gave up after a long fight but almost all Seminoles had been killed. The Cherokee resisted in a different way- took their case against removal to the Supreme Court – Worchester vs. Georgia. Ruled that Cherokee was a sovereign nation that did not have to move.

Jackson ignored the ruling and sent General Winfield Scott to walk the Cherokees 800 miles to Indian Territory – this forced march where c. 4500 Cherokee died was called the Trail of Tears