Dbq Indian Removal

When Congress declared that no Indian tribe or settlement in America would be considered an independent nation, many people began to ask what should be done about the Indians. Humanitarianism was thought to be the best solution. No race was considered superior to another, only considered more advanced. However, this was not from lack of potential. The Indians had just as much potential, but needed a nudge in the right direction. The solution to the Indian question seemed simple; manipulate them and their surroundings into advancing quicker so as to become more useful. Using government-sponsored missionaries seemed the best way to “civilize” the Indians. Would the five tribes of the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, Cherokees, and Seminoles

cooperate in the plans for America? What would be their home?
This goal of civilizing the Indians was supposed to be reached in just one generation.

It was believed that the Southern frontier would gradually expand to the Mississippi River. However, the Southern frontier advanced West much quicker than anticipated, raising a large demand for cotton from the South. This led to the demand for more land along the Gulf Coasts to be opened. As it happens, this land was designated as the Indian lands, such as Florida, Northern Alabama, Northwest Georgia, etc. Because the Indians were not changing their life styles quick enough, Indian removal was thought to be the only practical way to further develop the lands to the Mississippi River. Eastern Oklahoma and Eastern Kansas were the chosen destinations because pf their potential for farming.
The first group transported was the Choctaw tribe. Because the tribe was divided over the removal, the United States government negotiated with the leaders in favor it. The Choctaws could either stay and receive bits of land, or move and receive yearly payments. While those who traveled risked disease, Choctaws who remained often received poor land and were tricked into debt and lost their

land.
Although conditions for the Chickasaw Indians were similar, the Creeks were a different story. After the first Treaty of Washington, 15,000 Creeks refused to move. The second Treaty of Washington was offered which gave the same options as the Choctaws. Only 640 took this opportunity. Because of some armed disputes from the Indians, President Jackson had the leaders chained and moved west. Other Creeks left in groups of 1,000.
Perhaps the most famous of the tribe removals is that of the Cherokees.

Considered the most sophisticated of the Indian resistances, the Cherokee resistance was difficult to pass in court because of men like John Ross who knew the system of the United States government. Many arguments were made in favor of the Indians. It was argued that Cherokees were an independent foreign nation, and thus cannot have a United States law passed about them. This was not agreed upon by Chief Justice John Marshal. When the Treaty of New Echota was offered, only a few thousand acquiesced. Those who stayed were placed in re-concentration centers and moved 1,000 at a time. Known as The Trail of Tears, the Cherokee removal was not one trail, but simply a general direction.
The Seminoles quite possibly had the most effective and most violent resistance. After a failed attempt at negotiations, war was declared on the Seminoles in 1831. For every fifteen Indians removed, one United States soldier died, adding up to around 1500 men. When the leader of the Seminoles was captured in 1841, the war was ended. Some, however, were not willing to be relocated and retreated to the

Everglades.
Americans felt sympathetic toward the Indians because of their slow way of life. When their plan to help advance the Indians’ civilization was not quick enough, they resorted to moving them. Congress thought they were doing what was best for both Indians and Americans. The chosen land for the move seemed healthy enough for the Indians to live comfortably, and by moving the Indians out of the increasingly popular West, there would be a great increase in profit on the large supply of cotton there. Again, however, their plan did not succeed as predicted. Many Indians did not desire to move. Many of the Choctaws, Chickasaws, Creeks, Cherokees, and Seminoles resisted the move. Everyone has their own opinion as to whether it was Congress’s right to remove Indians from their homeland. To some it is harsh, to some, kind. However, it cannot be undone. America has moved on and we now are friends with all different races, and for that America is a wonderful home.