Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson believed that Native American tribes should remain on their homelands. However, they also believed that tribal groups should work toward assimilation, or acceptance of European ways of life. The nation's first administrations encouraged missionaries to visit or live among tribal nations for the purpose of Christianizing the population. Missionaries were also expected to teach Native Americans about European manners of dress, methods of land use, and approaches to trade.
Less than half a century after the country's founding, however, tensions began to grow between Native populations and Americans of European descent. Agriculturalists in the southern part of the United States had discovered a cash crop that was making planters very rich—cotton, which was in high demand back in Europe where cotton was difficult to grow. Plantation owners realized that the Five Civilized Tribes, who had been encouraged to take up farming themselves, were living on vast tracts of fertile land that was ideal for growing cotton.
By the time President Andrew Jackson took office in 1829, he was considered an authority on dealing with Native Americans. He had participated in negotiations with several Indian tribes between 1814 and 1824 and had managed to acquire several million acres from the Creeks and Seminoles in Alabama and Florida. That experience suggested to Southern planters that Jackson might be likely to side with white farmers in any question of land ownership.
In return for supporting him in the presidential election of 1828, Southern planters expected Jackson to make tribal homelands available for expanding cotton production. Jackson, a southerner himself, was already aligned with the southern states—and also keen to retain their political support. Immediately after his election, President Jackson called for the removal of the southeastern Indian tribes to territories west of the Mississippi River. On May 28, 1830, he signed the Indian Removal Act. Read the text of that law below, and answer questions beside the text.
What does the first paragraph of the Act give the President power to do?
- force Indians to sell off any land the tribe currently occupies
- create a designated territory or "district" for Indians to occupy
- offer the Mississippi River in exchange for all tribal lands
The territory that President Jackson set aside as a result of the Indian Removal Act was called Indian Territory and covered much of what is now Oklahoma.
The territory that President Jackson set aside as a result of the Indian Removal Act was called Indian Territory and covered much of what is now Oklahoma.
The territory that President Jackson set aside as a result of the Indian Removal Act was called Indian Territory and covered much of what is now Oklahoma.
What does the second paragraph of the Act give the President power to do?
- exchange land in Indian Territory for tribal lands within U.S. borders
- sell tracts of land in Indian Territory to any Indians who wish buy them
- forcibly remove Native Americans from tribal lands located inside a state
The Act was supposed to use Indian Territory as an incentive to get Native peoples to leave the states. However, everyone knew that members of those tribes would be expected to take the offer, eventually.
The Act was supposed to use Indian Territory as an incentive to get Native peoples to leave the states. However, everyone knew that members of those tribes would be expected to take the offer, eventually.
The Act was supposed to use Indian Territory as an incentive to get Native peoples to leave the states. However, everyone knew that members of those tribes would be expected to take the offer, eventually.
According to paragraph 3, what assurance is the President allowed to offer?
- a promise that tribes who settled in Indian Territory would always own that land
- a guarantee that tribes would be fairly compensated for the land they give up
- a vow to prevent plantation owners from using ancestral lands disrespectfully
The Act contained the guarantee that any tribe that moved to Indian Territory would not be forced off the land as long as they chose to remain.
The Act contained the guarantee that any tribe that moved to Indian Territory would not be forced off the land as long as they chose to remain.
The Act contained the guarantee that any tribe that moved to Indian Territory would not be forced off the land as long as they chose to remain.
What does the Indian Removal Act allow the President to offer, besides new tribal lands?
- representation within the United States government
- permission to return to tribal lands if the Indian Territory is unfit
- supplies and protection during the move to Indian Territory
The Act sets aside money to be used to help the tribes relocate to Indian Territory.
The Act sets aside money to be used to help the tribes relocate to Indian Territory.
The Act sets aside money to be used to help the tribes relocate to Indian Territory.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
The Removal Act
28 May 1830
An Act to provide for an exchange of lands with the Indians residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That it shall and may be lawful for the President of the United States to cause so much of any territory belonging to the United States, west of the river Mississippi, not included in any state or organized territory, and to which the Indian title has been extinguished, as he may judge necessary, to be divided into a suitable number of districts, for the reception of such tribes or nations of Indians as may choose to exchange the lands where they now reside, and remove there; and to cause each of said districts to be so described by natural or artificial marks, as to be easily distinguished from every other.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to exchange any or all of such districts, so to be laid off and described, with any tribe or nation of Indians now residing within the limits of any of the states or territories, and with which the United States have existing treaties, for the whole or any part or portion of the territory claimed and occupied by such tribe or nation, within the bounds of any one or more of the states or territories, where the land claimed and occupied by the Indians, is owned by the United States, or the United States are bound to the state within which it lies to extinguish the Indian claim thereto.
And be it further enacted, That in the making of any such exchange or exchanges, it shall and may be lawful for the President solemnly to assure the tribe or nation with which the exchange is made, that the United States will forever secure and guaranty to them, and their heirs or successors, the country so exchanged with them; and if they prefer it, that the United States will cause a patent or grant to be made and executed to them for the same: Provided always, That such lands shall revert to the United States, if the Indians become extinct, or abandon the same.
And be it further enacted, That if, upon any of the lands now occupied by the Indians, and to be exchanged for, there should be such improvements as add value to the land claimed by any individual or individuals of such tribes or nations, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such value to be ascertained by appraisement or otherwise, and to cause such ascertained value to be paid to the person or persons rightfully claiming such improvements. And upon the payment of such valuation, the improvements so valued and paid for, shall pass to the United States, and possession shall not afterwards be permitted to any of the same tribe.
And be it further enacted, That upon the making of any such exchange as is contemplated by this act, it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such aid and assistance to be furnished to the emigrants as may be necessary and proper to enable them to remove to, and settle in, the country for which they may have exchanged; and also, to give them such aid and assistance as may be necessary for their support and subsistence for the first year after their removal.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to cause such tribe or nation to be protected, at their new residence, against all interruption or disturbance from any other tribe or nation of Indians, or from any other person or persons whatever.
And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for the President to have the same superintendence and care over any tribe or nation in the country to which they may remove, as contemplated by this act, that he is now authorized to have over them at their present places of residence: Provided, That nothing in this act contained shall be construed as authorizing or directing the violation of any existing treaty between the United States and any of the Indian tribes.
And be it further enacted, That for the purpose of giving effect to the Provisions of this act, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, to be paid out of any money in the treasury, not otherwise appropriated.
