Native American Removal

Native Removal many supported removing Native Americans  For years, many supported removing Native Americans  About 100,000 American Indians lived east of the Mississippi River Mainly in the Southeast  Jackson urged Congress to set aside “an ample district west of the Mississippi” Believed the government had the right to regulate Natives Viewed them as conquered

 Indian Removal Act Passed by Congress Passed by Congress Treaties requiring them to relocate west forced to relocate to Indian Territory  Indians forced to relocate to Indian Territory Present-day Oklahoma, Nebraska, & Kansas Jackson called it “just and liberal”

Cherokee Nation  Some whites hoped Natives would assimilate to avoid conflict  Cherokee adapted to white society  Adopted white way of dress  Owned prosperous farms & ranches  Invented a system of written language Constitution  Gold was discovered –Americans wanted the land  Gold was discovered one year later–Americans wanted the land

Worcester v. Georgia Federal gov’t created a separate nation within Georgia for Cherokees  In the 1790s, Federal gov’t created a separate nation within Georgia for Cherokees  GA ignored laws & forced Natives out  Cherokee appealed to the Supreme Court to keep their land

Opinion & Reaction ruled only federal gov’t could make laws over the Cherokee  Supreme Court ruled only federal gov’t could make laws over the Cherokee  “Justice John Marshall has made his decision…Now let him enforce it.” – Andrew Jackson  Jackson supported GA & ignored ruling  Jackson supported GA & ignored Supreme Court ruling Native Americans could not have their own government within U.S. borders Native Americans could not have their own government within U.S. borders Become citizens or move west

7,000 troops removed Cherokee 7,000 troops removed the remaining Cherokee Indians – March known as the “Trail of Tears” – About ¼ died on the trip Illness, hunger, exposure to weather

Indian Removal Routes

Removal Reasons 1.) Increased population

2.) westward expansion 2.) Desire for westward expansion

3.) Native Americans assets & resources 3.) Benefit from Native Americans assets & resources