Indian Removal

Indian Removal

These slides go with the Module 10 Lesson 3 in the HMH textbook:

United States History: Beginnings to 1877.

Indian Removal Act

• President Andrew Jackson wanted to open lands in the west to American settlers.

• He convinced Congress to pass Indian Removal Act of 1830.

  • This authorized the removal of Indians living west of Mississippi River.

• Congress established Indian Territory in Oklahoma where all Southest Native Americans were moved to.

• Congress also created Bureau of Indian Affairs to oversee all policies regarding Native Americans.

Multiple Choice

Which act allowed for forced removal of all Native Americans west of Mississippi River?

• Bureau of Indian Affairs

• Indian Removal Act

• Indian Territory Act

• Indian Relocation Program

Multiple Choice

Who was the President that promoted removal of Native Americans?

• James K. Polk

• Thomas Jefferson

• John C. Calhoun

• Andrew Jackson

Read the quote below and answer the question on the next slide...

“It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages.”

—Andrew Jackson

Open Ended

How do you think Andrew Jackson felt his policy on Indian Removal would be received by Native Americans based on his quote in the previous slide?

The Choctaw

• Choctaw first sent to Indian Territory

• Mississippi legislature eliminated Choctaw government & forced them to sign Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek

  • gives 7.5 million acres of their land to US government

• More than 1/4 of Choctaw die on trip to Indian Territory due to cold, disease, and starvation

• Effects:

  • The Creek resist and 14,500 of them were captured and taken to Indian Terriory

  • Chickasaw negotiate for better supplies on trip

  • Thousands of Natives die on trip

Cherokee Resistance

• Cherokee choose to assimilate to avoid conflicts

• adopt American culture, set up missionaries, children learn to read and write English, develop American-style government.

• Cherokee scholar, Sequoya, develops a complex writing system to help translate Cherokee language to English

• Gold was found in GA and Cherokee were removed

• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

  • They take their case to court to defend their lands

  • Justice John Marshall says they are neither citizens or foregin country, so they have no right to sue in Amerian court.

​Cherokee Resistance cont...

• Cherokees befriend American man Samuel Austin Worcester who brought suit on their behalf.

• Worcester v. Georgia states Cherokee nation was a distinct community and only the federal government can make policy about governing Native Americans.

• Georgia ignored the ruling and President Jackson refused to enforce it

• Cherokee forced to march 800 miles on Trail of Tears to Indian Territory

• 1/4 died on march due to starvation, disease, and harsh weather

Match

Match the following below

• Sequoya

• Cherokee Nation v. Georgia

• Worcester v. Georgia

• John Marshall

• Andrew Jackson

Cherokee man who created writing system

lawsuit by Cherokees to prevent removal

lawsuit by US man to protect natives

Justice who said natives aren't citizens

President who had anti-native policies

• Cherokee man who created writing system

• lawsuit by Cherokees to prevent removal

• lawsuit by US man to protect natives

• Justice who said natives aren't citizens

• President who had anti-native policies

​Study to picture here and answer the question on the next slide...

Cherokee Removal

Open Ended

After reviewing the pic on the last slide, what did you notice about the conditions along the Trail of Tears?

Other Natives Resist

• Chief Black Hawk of Fox and Sauk Indians attempted to protect lands in Illinois.

  • By 1850, they were removed after running out of resources

• Seminoles in Florida were forced to sign removal treaty

  • The tribe ignores the treaty and Second Seminole War began.

  • By 1842, 4,000 Seminoles were removed after losing the war.

• Chief Billy Bowlegs leads Third Seminole War in Florida

  • 80 men, women, children were captured and removed

• US decided to give up fight against the few that remained in FL.

Multiple Select

What happened to the Seminoles during the Seminole Wars in Florida? CHECK ALL THAT APPLY.

• They were removed. and sent to Indian Territory.

• They died during wars and removal.

• They remained in Florida.

• They were given US citizenship.

Open Ended

What long-term effects do you think Native Americans might suffer from being removed from their lands?