The Indian Removal Act

It is impossible to civilize Indians because they were essentially inferior to the Anglo-Saxon race”

Cherokee Indians• Lived peacefully in the

Appalachian Mountains of Georgia and Tennessee

• Adopted culture of whites - wrote and spoke English

• Had own written language and newspaper

• Based their government on the U.S. Constitution

Battle over land The State of Georgia wanted Indian lands to

build things on. They also wanted the lands so that they could build larger plantations. The Indians refused to move.

Cherokee Sue For Land

Cherokee sued the government of Georgia for taking their land

Worcester vs. Georgia John Marshall of the Supreme Court ruled Georgia’s actions are illegal and that the Cherokee can stay

President Jackson said, “Chief Justice John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.”

1) What is the job of the Supreme Court?

2) What is the job of the President?

3) What should happen if a government official refuses to do his job?

Indian Removal Act

• In 1830 Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act which forced Native Americans to leave their homes in the USA and move West of the Mississippi.

Jackson saw Indian Removal as an opportunity to provide for the needs of the white farmers and businessmen. He also claimed that removal was also in the best interest of the Indians. Why?

Georgia seized Cherokee land

The Cherokee Nation sued and the case went

to the Supreme Court (highest court)Chief Justice Marshall upheld the right of the Cherokees to keep their land

Jackson had them kicked off anyway when

Congress passed the Indian Removal Act.

Jackson forced 15,000 Indians to walk to their new land. The walk took several months. It was in the winter and ¼ of them died on the trail. Most of the people that died were the elderly and kids. This was

called the Trail of Tears.

INDIAN REMOVAL IN THE UNITED STATES

You have taken me prisoner with all my warriors - I fought hard. But your guns were well-aimed. The bullets flew like birds in the air, and whizzed by our ears like the wind through the trees in the winter. My warriors fell around me, it began to look dismal. I saw my evil day at hand.