The Indian Removal Act of 1830 – Trail of Tears
Throughout decades of English immigrants and the formation of the United States, Native Americans were continually mistreated. They were looked at as “savages” and were made slaves. The English had no tolerance of them and many wanted them dead. This was mostly because they did not share religious beliefs and they did not share the same way of living. Natives were killed by attack after attack. Their crops were destroyed by settlers leaving them dying of starvation.
On May 28, 1830, Andrew Jackson enacted the Indian Removal Act as a means to “trade” land which lied on the eastern side of the Mississippi where the Native Americans resided. In return, the Native Americans would be given land which was designated for them west of the Mississippi. Within the treaty there were some important terms of conditions in which the President guaranteed these different nations.
Jackson promised the protection of tribes from all outside forces while they were o the newly designated land. The act also guaranteed “aid” for those who were moving and needed help in doing so. In one paragraph it was stated that the land which was traded was to always belong to the tribes, regardless if it was them or their successors living on it. (There was however one exception to this rule. It stated in the treaty that if the “Indians become extinct, or abandon the same” then “…such lands shall revert to the United States”).
With all of these promises and more from President Andrew Jackson, five different tribes decided to move to the other side of the Mississippi. Their destination was Oklahoma which was known as Indian Territory. This began the incredible (albeit deadly) move of over 70,000 Native Americans within the span of ten years. This trek is sadly known as the Trail of Tears.
The move from east to west proved to be more destructive to the tribes than it was helpful. What seemed to be a fair trade soon turned a terrible ordeal as many people died from the move. Native Americans died from exhaustion and starvation from the long journey. Over 3,000 Natives of the Cherokee tribe alone died on the Trail of Tears. This was not to mention all of those who died once they arrived in Oklahoma.
Native American Genocide