Final answer:
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 forced Native American tribes to relocate west of the Mississippi River, an 'option' they could choose supposedly voluntarily but often experienced through coercion or military force. The Cherokee were among the tribes that resisted, and fragmentation of tribes was one of the significant consequences of the act.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 outlined a governmental policy which forced the relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river. The relocation was supposed to be 'voluntary', but in practice, Native Americans faced intense pressure and coercion. There were various responses to the Indian Removal Act, but essentially, Native Americans had the 'option' to relocate west to the newly designated Indian Territory, with some tribes such as the Cherokee resisting and facing subsequent forced removal, known as the Trail of Tears.
In some cases, tribes reached agreements and moved voluntarily, while others suffered heavy casualties during their removal. Additionally, certain Native Americans resisted the policy, resulting in military confrontations, such as the one led by Sauk leader Black Hawk. The aftermath of the Indian Removal led to the fragmentation of tribes, such as the division between the Oklahoma Cherokee Nation and the Eastern Band of Cherokee, and between the Oklahoma Seminole and the Florida Seminole.