Final answer:
President Andrew Jackson was responsible for the Indian Removal policy, urging Congress to pass the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which led to the forced relocation of Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The president who was speaking about Indian removal in his address to Congress was Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was known for his roles as an Indian fighter before his presidency and for his involvement with Indian removal policies during his time in office. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, which Andrew Jackson advocated for, called for the relocation of Indian tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of the river.
This policy, driven by the belief that civilization and progress necessitated the removal of Native Americans from their lands, was implemented during Jackson's presidency and was indicative of a growing conflict between developing political factions, such as the Whigs and Democrats.
Despite the theoretical voluntary nature of the removal, there was significant pressure applied to various tribes. This was particularly true in the Southern United States, where the so-called Five Civilized Tribes were vehemently pressured to relocate. Historians note that Jackson's use of presidential power in enforcing the policy crossed lines and directly led to the large-scale, forceful relocation of Native American tribes during his administration. The 1830 Indian Removal Act is thus directly attributed to Andrew Jackson during his term in office.