Question

Why did Jackson go against the Supreme Court and proceed with the forced removal of the Native Americans? What was the Trail of Tears (watch the video - you will need to answer some of your test questions from it). What were the 5 tribes involved in the Indian Removal?

Answer 1

In 1830, President Andrew Jackson pushed the Indian Removal policy in the Congress, which was supported by white settlers in the South who were willing to expand their lands. These lands belonged to five Indian tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole.

Before being elected in 1828, Andrew Jackson developed a paternalistic attitude toward Native Americans, stating that they were children who needed guidance. This attitude was supported by the white settlers who elected him.

In 1838, General Winfield Scott under Martin Van Buren's presidency, led a force of the U.S. Army to remove the Cherokees to the west. This operation to relocate the Cherokee from their original lands was known as the "Trail of Tears". Due to the operation, nearly 4000 Cherokee died while trying to walk 1000 miles after being rounded up and dispossessed from their lands.