Indian Removal Act Jackson’s “solution”

Native Relations 2 approaches 1)Displacement and Dispossession Take their land and possessions 2) Conversion Make them like whites

“Civilized Tribes” 5 “civilized” tribes: 1) Cherokee 2) Choctaw 3) Chickasaw 4) Creek 5) Seminole Were adapting to white ways, but whites wanted their land

INDIAN REMOVAL ACT OF 1830  CONGRESS GAVE MONEY TO STATES TO ALLOW THEM TO NEGOTIATE TREATIES TO PURCHASE LAND FROM NATIVE TRIBES

Worcester v. Georgia  Cherokee tried to sue but had “no standing” in court  A missionary helped natives bring their lawsuit to court  1832 – Cherokee ruled as a political community and GA could not regulate or invade land  Jackson and Congress ignored ruling

Treaty of New Echota  Some Cherokee favored peace and signed a treaty in 1835  Gave up 8 million acres for $5 million and “land west”  Not all Cherokee in agreement, many refused to abide by treaty

Trail of Tears  In 1838, 20,000 Cherokee remained  Van Buren ordered forced removal  Army drove them into camps in groups of 1,000  Traveled 800 miles, mostly on foot  ¼ died  Whites stole their money & livestock  Ended up on inferior land