Andrew Jackson's Utilitarian Ethics and Indian Removal Act

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During 1829 to 1838, otherwise known as the Jacksonian Era, Andrew Jackson leaded the country with his revolutionary presidency. Jackson gained the support of many Americans by his way of persuading others, while also occasionally attempting to please the people. He was capable of establishing the Indian Removal Act by leading Americans to believe his words, while taking their concerns. Based on the support provided, we can conclude Andrew Jackson’s implementation of the Indian Removal Act in 1830 demonstrates a teleological, utilitarianism ethic. Even though Jackson’s actions may be unethical, they can be justified with this mindset.
Serving as the seventh President of the United States, Andrew Jackson was deemed as the perfect, typical …show more content…

When Jackson pondered what decision was considered right or wrong, he thought about the effects and what would happen. One of the reason he decided it was better for a bigger group of people was because the Indian Removal Act provided protection from the angry, white citizens. Jackson enforced the Indian Removal Act as means of a paternalistic view. Jackson viewed the Indians as young children who need direction and management. Sadly, some Americans perceived this to excuse their indescribable disrespect towards the natives. “Throughout 1836 and into 1837, whites robbed and beat Cherokees almost every day.”(Dwyer year, 36). Because of most Americans view on the impossibility to manifest the whole continent, when a chance surfaced, their mindset would not be altered. Therefore, the removal of Indians would keep them from the destructions of whites. Jackson and his supporters wanted western land and settlement, therefore they would do whatever it meant to get it. Another thing Jackson realized when given all the options on the Indians was his own reputation and thoughts. Andrew Jackson’s ideas about the Indians established from his life on the frontier, his expansionist visions, his commitment to states ' rights, and his intense nationalism. Jackson wanted to please the citizens, especially after gaining their support and winning the election by a landslide popular vote win. Even if this act sent the natives from their homes and from hundreds of years of tradition and generations, Jackson held his allegiance to the American people. Nearly 60,000 Native Americans were involuntary migrated and although that is an enormous number to represent people, that was not near of the United States citizen population of close to 13,000,000. Another reason Jackson may have put the act into place was The Indians would not fit into white society

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