The Age of Jackson Indian Removal Chapter 9 Section 3

Andrew Jackson & the Indian Andrew Jackson had become famous as an Indian fighter. He did not sympathize with Native Americans’ claim to the lands where they had always lived. He reversed the government’s pledge to respect Indian land claims. As a result, NA were moved from their homelands.

Indian Removal Act Native Americans lived in settlements from Georgia to Mississippi This act, passed by Congress, authorized the removal of NA living east of the Mississippi River, moving them to lands in the West. They were moved to Indian Territory, now known as Oklahoma. The Bureau of Indian Affairs managed the removal.

The Choctaw- the first to be moved The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek gave 7.5 million acres of Choctaw land to the state of Mississippi When they were moved, there was not enough food or supplies and 25% of them died during the trip.

The Creek & The Chickasaw Seeing the hardships suffered by the Choctaw, the Creek resisted the removal in Federal troops forced 14,500 to move, leading many in chains to Indian Territory. The Chickasaw negotiated for better supplies for their trip, but many died anyway.

The Cherokee Resistance Lived in Georgia and had adopted the contemporary culture of white people. Missionaries set up schools where Cherokee children learned to read and write in English. They had their own bicameral government modeled after the Constitution.

Sequoya Developed a set of 86 characters to create a writing system in the Cherokee language. In they began to publish a newspaper in Cherokee and English.

After gold was discovered on their land, the government wanted the Cherokee removed. The Cherokee sued the state of Georgia and in 1832 the Supreme Court, led by John Marshall,ruled that they could not be forced from their land. (Worcester v. Georgia) Georgia ignored the Supreme Court and Jackson did nothing to uphold the ruling, the Cherokee were moved 800 miles. 25% of the 18,000 people died on the march known as the Trail of Tears.

Native American Resistance Chief Black Hawk, of the Fox & Sauk Indians fought the removal beginning in 1832, but by 1850 they were forced to leave due to a lack of food and supplies. In Florida, the Seminole ignored the removal treaty and fought back. Their leader, Osceola, was captured and died were removed, but eventually the U.S. gave up the fight. Their descendants live in Florida today.

Conclusion With the signing of the Indian Removal Act, Jackson forced Native Americans from land that white settlers wanted. Five tribes were forced to walk to the new Indian Territory to land that the white settlers did not want. The new land was poor and this made it difficult for the NA. Many died from malnutrition and disease. Within 10 years, 60,000 Indians were relocated.