Indians and Racism

John Drabble

Hist 436

First Draft

Indians and Racism

With the Louisiana Purchase, and War of 1812 the removal quickened. Five great tribes (high populated) in the south were negotiated to move westward in exchange for lands. The Cherokees convinced and moved to Arkansas, the Choctaws moved to first Arkansas and later to Oklahoma, the Creeks also negotiated to move Oklahoma and the Chickasaws were moved to Alabama. Some of the people among tribes accepted to move west. But some resisted moving because many people (traditionalists) were attached to their lands with mythological and religious reasons. And, as Theda Perdue states, US presidents refused to force these Indians to go west against their will until 1829[1]. So some Indians continued to stay on their lands for a short time.

But with Andrew Jackson presidency, the situation completely started to change. According to Robert Remini, the tribes were induced to sign treaties of removal and they were invariably cheated, even with these treaties that were legally obtained[2]. When Andrew Jackson became the president, he was very experienced person with fighting and negotiating with Indians. And he was very insisting to acquire and open the Indians lands to white settlement. Also, the slow removal, establishment of Cherokees republican government and discovery of Gold in Georgia (mainly Cherokees lands) angered the southerner.

So, he took his first step in 1829 message to Congress, and offered Indians two alternatives that if they stayed, they could be subject to discriminatory laws but if they move west they can continue their life with their own tribal governments. But most whites believed that Indians should move. So in 1830, with 102 to 97 votes, he passed the Removal Act that legalized the exchange of lands that Indians were residing in any of the states and territories and their removal to the west of Mississippi. So, removal, for a second, was legally supported and...