Question

From the time of Jefferson the United States Government told the American Native Tribes that if they would just adopt the White ways of cultivation and just 'embrace the American Dream' then they would be allowed to join us as equals.

The Cherokee Nation took up the offer and built thriving farming communities that were outproducing their peers in Georgia. Still, President Andrew Jackson signed and implemented the 'Indian Removal Act' and forcibly removed them from their land, even after the Supreme Court told him not to.

What do you think this says about Jackson and how the United States Government was working in the 1830s?

Answer 1

Andrew Jackson must have put a lot of work and discipline into all of these laws with the Cherokee nation and the Indian Removal Act. The removal act must have caused a lot of physically and emotional outcomes for the Cherokee tribe and their lands to exchange with Mr. Jackson. I think this shows how Andrew Jackson was quite ambitious about land and the government, but I still think he shouldn’t have switched lands with the natives.

Answer 2

Answer: The forced removal of the Cherokee Nation and other Native American tribes from their lands, known as the Trail of Tears, was a dark chapter in American history. It was a blatant violation of human rights and a tragic betrayal of the promises made to Native American communities. President Andrew Jackson's decision to sign and implement the Indian Removal Act in defiance of the Supreme Court's ruling showed a disregard for the rule of law and a willingness to prioritise political and economic interests over basic principles of justice.

This action, along with others during the period, reflects the pervasive racism and paternalism of the U.S. government towards Native American communities. The government believed that Native Americans were "savages" who needed to be "civilised" and assimilated into American society. This ideology was used to justify the violent displacement and forced assimilation of Native American peoples, and it had devastating consequences for their cultures and communities.

Overall, the forced removal of the Cherokee Nation and other Native American tribes represents a shameful moment in American history, highlighting the injustices and violence that can arise when those in power prioritise their own interests over the rights and dignity of others.