preview

Indian Removal Dbq

Decent Essays

Opponents of Indian Removal had hopes that Native Americans would be able to assimilate into the culture, or have their own state within the United States. While assimilation did take place in some cases, hopes of a true sovereign Indian nation has proved to be impossible for them. Constant expansion and even national security issues arose. As they were displaced to western lands, their cultures faded into history as white settlers slowly overtook them. The decimation of the Native American culture had already occurred by the time Congress passed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. “Removal” was inevitable and constant for Indians since the first settlers landed in The New World in 1602, and there was no stopping it. The British colonies …show more content…

The 1848 discovery of gold in California assured yet another expansion of pioneers this time. Native Americans were subjected to another invasion of their lands, leading to conflicts with the U.S Army, such as the Battle of Little Big Horn in 1876. While Native Americans had initial military success by defeating General George Custer, they were ultimately defeated and hunted down by the U.S. Army. The west was now wide open for settlement, and the Indians would eventually get the scraps in the form of barren …show more content…

The White House claims: “The United States recognizes a government to government relationship, as well as a unique legal and political relationship, with federally recognized tribes.” (6) What looks like progress actually presents some issues for Native Americans. A sovereign government should not have to be federally recognized by another power in order to be legit, unless of course they are a conquered and dependent sovereign nation. To grant a truly sovereign Indian foreign state within the United States would present a national security issue. Being sovereign and foreign means that an Indian nation would be free to trade and ally with enemies of the United States. With that comes the issue of those claiming false Indian ancestry in order to obtain personal benefits. “Fraud in this area is quite rampant whereby people falsely claim Indian ancestry to take unfair advantage of governmental benefits and other perceived opportunities.” (7) Even today, Indian resources are being exploited and taken from them, when there is almost nothing to take. Native Americans now have to prove their legitimacy to the same federal government that has displaced and removed them for hundreds of

Get Access