The Indian Removal Act (a law that Congress passed and was signed by Andrew Jackson in May 1830) required Native Americans such as the Cherokee, Chocktaws and Chickasaw to be removed form the Southern States. This was to expand the United States.
Jackson can use the Indian Removal Act to gain access to the U.S. Westward expansion and to drive the Native Americans from their lands. On their journey to new lands, approximately 4,000 Native Americans were killed. This is known as ”The Trail of Tears.” In the meantime, President Jackson was being tried for his role in the mass killings that took place when the Indian Removal Act came into effect. The policies of the United States towards Native Americans are clearly liars. Each of the witnesses against President Jackson testified for the prosecution, who had taken precedence. Each of them testified about their dark past and how they participated in the case. When their own witnesses gave evidence about their support for Jackson, the lawyers interrogated them and asked questions of each witness. Jurors have been present throughout the trial and will make the final decision about Jackson’s guilt or innocence.
The U.S. had a policy towards Native Americans that was based on destroying their land. The ”Cherokee V. Georgia’s” and the ‘The Northwest Ordinance were two of the policies that were put in place. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 stated that Indians should be treated with the utmost good will and that they must consent to their property and lands being taken away.
This was unfortunately not a sound policy, as Europeans continued to try to take Native lands. The Cherokees filed a lawsuit against Georgia in Cherokee v. Georgia 1819, claiming that Cherokee lands are sovereign governments. Although the Cherokees won the case, the victory was shortened by the Indian Removal Act.
Natives are known for being peaceful but will fight for their rights if necessary. A quote from Chief Joseph is found in Document E. It comes from Harper’s Weekly. Chief Joseph says that “if the white man would like to live peacefully with the Indian …., we can do so.” It doesn’t matter if there is trouble. Treat all men alike…. All men should be treated equally. Give everyone an equal chance at life and growth. As if the rivers were going backward, it is not fair to expect them to flow forward. We just ask for an opportunity to live the way other men do. We want to be acknowledged as men. Let me be a man …. “But making peace to the Europeans had its price.
A witness for the defense, George Custer, testified during the trial that he fought alongside his 210 soldiers in the Battle of Little Bighorn. The war broke out due to the intrusion by Europeans. However, he died and was never seen again. He said that Jackson wasn’t someone he looked up too, but that he was a close friend. He also testified that he was picked to fight for the war because of his caliber and unions. He fought the Sioux, Cheyenne warriors in a battle with just 210 men. The Natives had 2,000. He died with his men.
It was a collection of policies that promised Natives would be left alone. But it didn’t produce any results. The famous Dawes Act, which was created in 1887, proved to be the next failure. The Dawes Act was a U.S. policy that forcibly made Natives integrate to European society. It also promises U.S citizenship. The Europeans promised to the Natives that this was for their own good due to a more than blatant cultural/religious/racial superiority.
Europeans had made it compulsory for tribes to throw away tribal clothes in order to perform tribal dances. Carlisle Indian Industrial School, Pennsylvania was one notable example.
Some people may disagree with this assertion. They might also mention President Jackson’s horrible crimes against humanity. It is easy to understand that expansion will require you to overcome some obstacles.
However, when you force someone to remove them from their land, you violate their human rights and then sign a law. These circumstances show that there is a significant cognitive dissonance.
The U.S. has been very unkind to Native Americans. They have broken promises they made to Natives that they didn’t keep or reneged on. They believe they are helping Natives but they are actually driving them closer towards their destruction. If you look at all of the U.S. policies that Native Americans have been exposed to, it becomes clear that the U.S. does not care about Native Americans.
