Andrew Jackson had a hand in making and instituting Indian removal policies during his career.
Indian Removal Treaties were placed into effect from 1814 to 1824 to relocate the Indians out of harm’s way and out of the path of the expansion of modern civilization. Andrew Jackson was active in many of the treaties during this time frame. Jackson was able to convince Congress to pass legislation that would move the Indians westward in exchange for current tribal land holdings. In 1830 the “Indian Removal Act” was passed with the Indians were forced to either migrate towards the lands promised in the west or to submit to the state authorities and simulate into the population. Jackson was giving the Indians two choices; on one hand they could move with generous assistance from the government or they would be removed by the military. Many of the Indians were peacefully moved to the new lands, while others fought for their rights. In 1831 there was the Cherokee Nation vs. Georgia and then in 1832 Worcester vs. Georgia, where dramas played out in the court systems. Although the Supreme Court upheld many of the tribal rights, Jackson was able to influence the court rulings in Georgia and many were just ignored. The Cherokees were not pleased with the court rulings not being upheld and with the removal treaties, which lead to their removal by military force in 1838 under Martin Van Buren leading to much suffering known as the “Trail of Tears”. Martin Van Buren was the successor of Andrew Jackson in the US presidency. Although the treaties were fair and often times generous, they were not executed appropriately. The promises that Jackson made in the treaties were oftentimes impossible for the government to fulfill.
(n.d.). Retrieved March 6, 2011, from http://millercenter.org/president/jackson/essays/biography/4
(n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2011, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2959.html
Trail of Tears max d stanley exodus. Image retrieved March 14, 2011 from http://homilyblog.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Trail of Tears max d stanley exodus. Image retrieved March 14, 2011 from http://homilyblog.blogspot.com/2008_10_01_archive.html
Research done by Dana E.