Indian Removal Act of 1830: Unveiling its Impact

Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, impacting the lives of the Indians. This was supposed to be a peaceful move for the Indians, but has caused many problems, including wars and being forced off their land with consequences. There were protests from both the Indians and whites who did not agree with the Indian Removal Act, but whites wanted more land. The Indian Removal act of 1830 is a turning point in American history because Andrew Jackson was firm on wanting the Indians to move, the event was harsh, and the long-term effects impact us still today.

After Europeans came to America, Indians were constantly forced to move because of the greed of Europeans wanting land. Each war would result in Indians signing treaties involving

losing their land. After the War of 1812, the want of land caused problems for Indians. The Supreme Court had agreed to allow Indians to live on the land, but would not allow them to “hold title to those lands” (PBS). Before Jackson’s presidency, he helped in “negotiating nine out of eleven treaties” to get the Indians in the south to move west (PBS).
Andrew Jackson claims the conditions of the tribe were getting worse, according to a Newspaper Article “To the Cherokee Tribe of Indians”, reaching out to the Indians in Georgia. This article states that he wanted what is best for the Indians and that they should have moved sooner, that the Indians do not belong around a “white nation.” He gives them a choice to move on their own to a “fertile and extensive country, with a very fine climate”, or be forced to move (Jackson 1835, Teach US History).
There was a group of Indians known as the “Five Civilized Indians” that adjusted to American life and tried to live the way American’s did. They learned to farm, build houses, and create laws with penalties if a law was broken. They also had slaves and bring in education for their people. This was an attempt to please and created peace with American citizens, the government, and to keep the land they are on now (Ridge 1826, Teach US History).
A case that went to the Supreme Court was Worcester versus Georgia. Samuel Worcester broke a law on Cherokee land. The Cherokee nation tried to charge him, Georgia took over. The Supreme Court went in favor of Worcester and the Cherokee nation that Georgia was violating the constitution (Worcester vs Georgia, University of Washington). “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in general assembly met, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, that, after the 1st day of February 1831, it shall not be lawful for any person or persons, under colour or pretence of authority from said Cherokee tribe, or as headmen, chiefs or warriors of said tribe, to cause or procure by any means the assembling of any council or other pretended legislative body of the said Indians or others living among them, for the purpose of legislating” (Worcester v. Georgia, University of Washington). Andrew Jackson and Georgia did not enforce the law.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 came into place soon after Andrew Jackson became president. During his inauguration speech, he said “It will be my sincere and constant desire to observe toward the Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to give that humane and considerate attention to their rights and their wants which is consistent with the habits of our Government and the feelings of our people.” He argued that it would be best to move the Indians to save them from squatters or anyone else that wanted their land. This would be to protect the Indians (Peppas 2013, page#).
The bill took some time to be passed as the many people in the senate did not want the bill to pass. Theodore Frelinghuysen gave a six hour speech against the bill and many others opposed the bill such as Daniel Webster, Henry Clay. The bill became a law on May 28, 1830 after passing in the House of Representatives (Native History Association). “The Act established a process whereby the President could grant land west of the Mississippi River to Indians that agreed to give up their homelands” (Office of the Historian). Some Americans protested because they felt it was not right to force the Indians to move, but they were ignored. Jackson and others who wanted this Act were to negotiate removal treaties offering money and help for their travels. This Act was meant for nations “east of the Mississippi river” (PBS).
The discovery of gold in Georgia and the “desire for land” were factors that pushed to move the Indians off the land (Native History Association). Even though gold was found on Cherokee land, Cherokee could not touch it. People from all over came to their land to mine the gold (Peppas 2013, page#). This was also the time of Manifest Destiny, where white moved all over the country in hopes to spread their culture and customs. This involved them moving onto Indian land (Peppas 2013, page#).
The Indians that signed the treaties voluntarily had no problems from the government as well as received assistance in moving if needed. The only transportation the Indians had were walking, but the government offered steamboats to pull them through when they were needed. They were given time to move and was a peaceful process. Leaving voluntarily means that soldiers did not have to go with them on the trip and left the tribes up to themselves to leave (Peppas 2013, page#).
Not all Indians were happy about the treaties and caused war between the Indians and Americans.

Any Indians that had to be forced to move were joined by American military to ensure that they leave. They were not guaranteed to bring their belongings with them and often had to watch their land be destroyed before they left (Peppas 2013, page#).

The Choctaw was the first of the Indian tribes to sign a treaty, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek. About 15,000 Choctaw left and 2,500 died during their leave (Peppas 2013, page#). They were allowed to stay “under the terms of the Removal Act.” Any of them that chose to stay were pressured to move off by whites who would move to the land or stole from them even though they were supposed to be protected (PBS).

The Chickasaw signed the Treaty of Washington in 1830 exchanging their land for money, but were not paid by the government for 30 years. They brought their slaves with them on the move (Peppas 2013, page#). They bought part of the Choctaw territory, because they had a hard time finding land that they wanted. (Native History

Association).
The Creek signed the Treaty of Cusseta, which gave them land east of the Mississippi river, but they were also allowed to keep part of their original land in the west. Problems came up when white settlers moved onto their land. Creek retaliated by attacking them and led to wars. The government did nothing to stop the settlers and force the settlers off of Creek land, but instead sent military to take care of the problem by forcing the Creek to move. The Creek never agreed to move and were not compensated for the land they lost (Peppas 2013, page#).
The Indian Removal Act led to wars such as the Seminoles Wars with the help of slaves.

Some of the Seminoles left peacefully after signing the Treaty of Payne’s Landing. Some of the Seminoles refused to leave which resulted in the wars (Peppas 2013, page#). The American military had been defeated in many of the battles and the wars cost millions of dollars and thousands of lives. Many of the Seminoles eventually agreed to move after the second war (Native History Association). There was still a third war against the Seminole, but eventually they were paid to move. Some managed not to get caught and remained in Florida (The Seminole Wars Foundation,

Inc.).
Some of the Cherokee leaders signed the “Treaty of New Echota” even though there was a law against them giving up land. Chief John Ross never signed the treaty and many, but not all, refused to leave because he is the main leader and he never signed the treaty. John Ross went to congress to fight the treaty, but were still forced to leave. “John Ross was part Cherokee and part Scottish” (Peppas 2013, page#). This resulted in Jackson sending the army to force them to move.
The Cherokee left on a journey that is known as the Trail of Tears. They were moved to what is now Oklahoma. The Cherokee could only take few belongings and were separated from their families. They were not able to take the Cherokee all at once, but were provided ships to help transport. The army put them into a “prisons” and many people starved. The government did give each person $100 to use during their journey, but soldiers borrowed money when running out of supplies and the Indians never got paid back (Peppas 2013, page#). On the trip, they were treated poorly on the way, stolen from, and taken advantage of. This resulted in Jackson sending the army to force them to move. “An estimated 4,000 died from hunger, exposure and disease” (Cherokee Nation).
Americans considered themselves successful. They removed the majority of Indians from the land east of the Mississippi river and this opened up land to settlers, but did not stop them from moving onto Indian land in the west. There was access to gold in Georgia. The Indians had to change their lives to adjust to their surroundings and learn about the new environment they live in.