Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the Indian Removal Act of 1830, the Trail of Tears, and the impacts on Native American tribes.

What was the purpose of the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

To authorize the president to grant lands west of the Mississippi in exchange for Indian lands within existing state borders.

Who passed the Indian Removal Act?

President Andrew Jackson.

Which groups supported the Indian Removal Act?

President Jackson, southern and white settlers, and several state governments, particularly Georgia.

Who opposed the Indian Removal Act?

Indigenous tribes, the Whig Party, some Christian missionaries, and Davy Crockett.

What term is used to describe the removal and dispossession of Native Americans as seen by scholars?

State sanctioned ethnic cleansing, genocide, and settler colonialism.

What did the British Proclamation of 1763 establish regarding Indian Territory?

It designated the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River as Indian Territory.

What major event in 1828 influenced the Indian Removal Act and the removal of Native Americans?

The discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia, resulting in the Georgia Gold Rush.

Who were the 'Five Civilized Tribes'?

The Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole nations.

How many members of various tribes were forcibly removed due to the Indian Removal Act?

Approximately 60,000 members.

What was the Trail of Tears?

The forced journey of Southeastern Native Americans to the Indian Territory from 1830-1850.

How many Native Americans are estimated to have died during the Trail of Tears?

Between 13,200 and 16,700.

What justification did President Jackson use for the removal of Native populations?

He claimed it was for their own good, suggesting it would protect them from harmful influences.

What did Jackson state in his State of the Union Address regarding Native Americans?

That removal would separate natives from Anglo-American settlements and retard the progress of decay.

What was the response of the Cherokee Nation to the Indian Removal Act?

They appealed to the Supreme Court in the Cherokee Nation v. Georgia lawsuit.

What was the outcome of the Cherokee Nation v. Georgia lawsuit?

The Cherokee won their case but Jackson did not enforce the ruling.

What was the result for the Cherokee after they agreed to the Treaty of New Echota in 1835?

They ceded 8 million acres of land for a homeland in the West and $5 million, but only 2,000 moved.

What characterized the journey known as the Trail of Tears?

It was marked by suffering, disease, and death due to harsh conditions.

What is Romantic Nationalism in the context of the Indian Removal Act?

The belief that Anglo-Americans and Natives could not coexist and that distinct cultures reflected racial differences.

How did the removal agreements differ for the Choctaw compared to other tribes?

The Choctaw were the first to finalize negotiations and had transport provided for their move.

What impact did the Georgia Gold Rush have on the Cherokee?

It increased pressure for their removal due to the desire for access to gold resources.

What did the Indian Removal Act promise regarding land?

It promised that lands granted to tribes would be guaranteed to them 'forever'.

What were the main challenges faced by Native Americans during relocation?

Bureaucratic ineptitude, corruption, and conflicts with other Native nations.

What did President Jackson think about Native American attempts to assimilate?

He believed that previous attempts at assimilation had failed and that Natives could not coexist with civilized society.

What role did demagogues play in the Indian Removal process?

They inflamed public opinion and supported removal by appealing to the prejudices of ordinary voters.

What was the outcome of the Second Seminole War?

Most Seminoles were sent west, but 500 remained in Florida.

What happened to the land promised to the Chickasaw after they agreed to their removal?

They discovered that there was no land available for them in the West and had to merge with the Choctaws.