Indian Removal Act Of 1830

2136 Words9 Pages
Summary: In this policy paper, I will be discussing the Indian Removal Act of 1830 and its implications on the Cherokee Tribe. Although the Indian removal Act of 1830 affected not only the Cherokee Tribe in the southeast part of the United States, but for this paper, I will be discussing how the Indian Removal Act affected the Cherokee Tribe. The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by Andrew Jackson on May 28, 1830, authorizing the president to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders. A few tribes went peacefully, but many resisted the relocation policy. During the fall and winter of 1838 and 1839, the Cherokees were forcibly moved west by the United States government. Approximately 4,000 Cherokees died on this forced march, which became known as the "Trail of Tears." The Indian Removal Act was filed under Chapter 168 and it specified that [it is] "an Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi" (Perdue and Green, 110). The act was established by congress in order to limit the amount of territories the Indians inhabited westward. The Indians suffered many casualties during this period; there were estimates that thousands of Indians lives were lost due to exposure, disease and malnourishment. This paper will discuss how the greed of the US government forced the Cherokee people from their lands for gold and cotton. Background: Early in the 19th century, while white settlers were claiming lands in the South for growing cotton, the area was home to the Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole nations. These Indian nations, in the view of the settlers and many other white Americans, were standing in the way of progress. Eager for land to raise cotton, the settlers pressured the federal

More about Indian Removal Act Of 1830

Open Document