Indian Removal Act: Relocation of Native Americans

Introduction

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 authorized the United States government to relocate Native Americans to the west of the Mississippi River with promises of support and compensation for their losses. While the majority of Native Americans moved voluntarily, others resisted or did not take the threat seriously until the U.S. Army was dispatched to forcibly remove them (History, 2009). Under the Indian Removal Act, military soldiers relocated thousands of Native Americans on foot, chained together, for thousands of miles without adequate food and water, leading to numerous deaths from diseases and exhaustion (President, n.d.). In remembrance of this cruel period, the path they took has been designated as a national historic trail known as the Trail of Tears. The Trail of Tears spans over 5,043 miles and covers nine states: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Tennessee (History, 2009).

The Rationale Behind the Indian Removal Act

President Jackson’s rationale for relocating the American Indians was not to civilize them but to render them powerless and inhuman, reinforcing the notion that the "white man" was more powerful and authoritative. The original intent of the Indian Removal Act was supposed to be fair and voluntary, not forceful and greedy, but the removal did not achieve its "intended" impact (President, n.d.). In my opinion, the initial purpose of the Removal Act was to relocate the Indians to areas that white settlers desired, while also attempting to integrate Native Americans into the settlers' customs to live peacefully and establish treaties to enforce the promises made. The Indian Removal Act should have been named differently if the intention was genuinely positive, rather than resulting in the death of thousands during an unnecessary and cruel journey.

The Role of President Jefferson

The responsibilities given to President Jefferson under the Indian Removal Act of 1830 were mandated by Congress. Thomas Jefferson took it upon himself to remove the Native Americans by any means necessary. His focus was not on their well-being but on expansion, acquiring more land, and increasing power (President, 2009). Jackson's actions toward Native Americans, in the context of his First Inaugural Address and the events leading to the Trail of Tears, suggested a blatant disregard for their welfare. He claimed to "protect them" and guide them in the right direction, yet his actions demonstrated the opposite.

Violation of the Declaration of Independence

The removal of Native Americans from east of the Mississippi River violated the principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, beginning with the preamble, which was disregarded almost entirely. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security" (Preamble, n.d.).

Conclusion

Not only did the government contradict what was stated in the Declaration, but society largely failed to stand up against it. This pattern of overlooking injustices persists even today, with issues being ignored until they culminate in tragedy. I hope that one day society will unite to overthrow unfairness, racism, and injustice.

References

History. (2009). Indian Removal Act of 1830. Retrieved from http://www.history.com/topics/indian-removal-act

President. (n.d.). President Jackson and the Indian Removal Act. Retrieved from http://www.president.com/indian-removal-act

President. (2009). Thomas Jefferson's Role in the Indian Removal Act. Retrieved from http://www.president.com/thomas-jefferson

Preamble. (n.d.). The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription. Retrieved from http://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript