1. Aim: Is Jackson’s place in history tarnished by his Indian policy? Do now: How would you respond if you were told that you and your family needed to move to Wyoming tomorrow?

2. Jackson’s Indian Policy “Five Civilized Tribes” (Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Seminole, Cherokee) – Autonomous nations inside the U.S. – Agreed to slowly adapt American culture/traditions – Slowly being converted to Christianity Based on the image to the left, what groups would have the most trouble with these Native Americans? Why?

3. Indian Removal Act (1830) Signed by Andrew Jackson Allowed the President to negotiate with these nations and purchase their land, relocating them West of the Mississippi

4. Justification for Indian Removal Act According to Jackson, what is the reason for the Indian Removal Act? According to Benton, what is the reason for the Indian Removal Act? How may his position influence his rationale? Whose position do you think is most accurate? Why?

5. Indian Removal Removal is “voluntary”, but under extreme pressure Small groups often encouraged to sign treaties for money, handing over land that did not belong to them If you were one of these Native Americans, how would you respond to this Act?

6. Chief Black Hawk’s Surrender Speech, 1832 1) What was Black Hawk’s goal? 2) What was Black Hawk’s problem with the United States? 3) What was Black Hawk’s fate?

7. Worcester v. Georgia (1832) Georgia had passed laws limiting who could live in land owned by the Cherokee within Georgia Sam Worcester, a missionary, is ordered to leave Cherokee land by Georgia, and refuses Ruling: Cherokee land is an independent nation, and Georgia cannot pass laws regulating what happens there Importance: As an independent nation, the Cherokee’s could refuse relocation Jackson’s Response: “John Marshall(SCOTUS justice) has made his decision; now let’s see him enforce it”

8. The Trail of Tears Jackson orders the Army to remove the Cherokee, by force if necessary Starting in May of 1838, the Cherokee were rounded up at gunpoint, herded together, and then marched to Oklahoma Over 4,000 Cherokee would die of starvation and exposure Those who survived were left with virtually no material belongings when they reached Oklahoma

9. “In May 1838, I witnessed the execution of the most brutal order in the History of American Warfare. I saw helpless Cherokees arrested and dragged from their homes...I saw them loaded like cattle or sheep into six hundred forty-five wagons and started toward the west”-John Burnett, Army Interpreter "Future generations will read and condemn the act and I do hope posterity will remember that private soldiers like myself, and like the four Cherokees who were forced by General Scott to shoot an Indian Chief and his children, had to execute the orders of our superiors. We had no choice in the matter.” John Burnett, Army Interpreter What effect do you think this forced removal will have on the Cherokee? What effect may it have on other Native Americans in the United States ??