preview

Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Analysis

Decent Essays

On May 28, 1830, Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law. As a result of this, the Five Civilized Tribes, the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole, were removed from their homes in the Southwest within the next decade. (Steward 56) These Indians were forced to leave their homes to land they had never seen before. The reason for this act of injustice, according to Andrew Jackson, was to protect them from their probable annihilation, but historians from different points of view debate whether or not removal benefited the Indians. Some historians think that removal did protect and save the Indians, while others believe that it hurt the Indians. During the American Revolution, many Indian tribes sided with the British, …show more content…

Began with Shawnee leader Tecumseh’s speech at the annual Creek council in 1811, the military faction of the Creeks, known as the Red Stick party, opposed the Creek National Council and their friendly relations with the United States. The red sticks opposed of the Lower Creek adopting Western culture and resisted the civilization programs by American agents. Like Tecumseh’s war in the North, the red stick Creeks fought to drive out American influences in the nation (Stewart 61). At the battle of Horseshoe Bend, forces led by Andrew Jackson defeated the red sticks and ended the revolt. Although Jackson fought against the red stick Creeks, both the red stick and Lower Creeks, who fought alongside Jackson, were punished. In August 9, 1814, Jackson forced the leaders of both factions to sign the treaty of Fort Jackson, which ceded over 20 million acres of land to the United States. This conflict enforced Jackson’s belief of the removal of the Indians being for the greater good of the Indians and national security. After the war, Jackson pleaded to President James Monroe to abandon the policy of Indian sovereignty and adopt Thomas Jefferson’s removal plan

Get Access