Comprehensive Study Guide on Native American Removal and Jacksonian Policy

At the time Andrew Jackson took office, there were approximately $125,000$ Native Americans still residing east of the Mississippi River.
The primary groups involved were the "Five Tribes of the South":
- The Cherokee nation (described as the centerpiece of this historical event).
- The Choctaw.
- The Chickasaw.
- The Creek.
- (Note: The Seminole are also later mentioned regarding their resistance in Florida).
These groups totaled about $60,000$ people by the time Jackson was inaugurated.
They were living in the region encompassing the modern states of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi, an area described as the "Southern cotton king labor" zone.
A central question of the era was whether these Native Americans would be allowed to block white expansion or if the United States would abide by established treaties that guaranteed them land access.

The United States maintained two conflicting policies regarding Native Americans, both of which traced their origins back to the presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
Assimilation Policy:
- Definition: The idea that Native Americans would adopt white values, religion, and culture.
- Goal: Native Americans would integrate themselves into the existing white society.
- Justification: Proponents argued this was the only way to prevent the destruction of Native American civilization.
Removal Policy:
- Definition: The idea that Native Americans should move voluntarily, sell off their land, and relocate outside the path of white settlement.
- Origin: Thomas Jefferson was the first president to suggest this approach.
- Justification: Defenders claimed that if Native Americans did not move, they would be destroyed by the encroaching white population.
The speaker notes that these two policies are mutually exclusive; the government could not realistically pursue both simultaneously.

The Cherokee in Georgia served as the preeminent example of the attempt to assimilate.
Actions taken by the Cherokee to adopt white customs included:
- Developing a written language.
- Learning the English language.
- Writing and adopting a formal Constitution.
- Establishing governing documents.
- Creating a system of elected representatives.
Sovereignty Claims: Through their Constitution, the Cherokee established sovereignty over their land, asserting that the State of Georgia had no jurisdiction over them. This sovereignty was initially confirmed by federal treaties.

The State of Georgia eventually abolished tribal rule and declared all Cherokee land to be under state jurisdiction.
This conflict was exacerbated by the discovery of gold on Cherokee land in the $1820s$ .
The gold rush led white settlers and prospectors to encroach upon the land, prompting the Cherokee Nation to sue in court to protect their territory.

Two landmark Supreme Court cases defined this legal battle:
- Cherokee Nation v. Georgia ( $1831$ ): The first major case reaching the high court.
- Worcester v. Georgia ( $1832$ ): The second major case.
Court Ruling: The Supreme Court ruled that states could not pass laws that conflicted with federal treaties negotiated with Native Americans. Therefore, Georgia's claim of sovereignty over Cherokee land was unconstitutional because federal treaties gave the Cherokee tribal sovereignty.

Despite the court ruling, Andrew Jackson supported the policy of removal. He did not enforce the Supreme Court's decision against Georgia.
Perceptions of Jackson:
- Jackson viewed himself as an "Indian savior," believing removal was necessary for their survival.
- Native Americans referred to Jackson as the "White Devil."
The Indian Removal Act: Early in his administration, Jackson signed this act, which designated federal lands in what is now Oklahoma (and part of Arkansas) as Indian Territory.
Jackson’s policy was to encourage voluntary migration through the sale of tribal lands, but he used threats of destruction if tribes resisted.

While some tribes like the Choctaw and Creek had members move voluntarily, resistance led to forced removals.
The Trail of Tears: This refers to the forced march of Native Americans from their tribal lands to the West.
The Choctaw Experience: They were the first to be forcibly removed during the winter of $1831$ . Thousands died from disease, starvation, and exposure.
Lack of Federal Aid: Although the government promised assistance, it rarely materialized. The speaker notes that in the $1830s$ , there was no modern "welfare state" or disaster relief infrastructure. States often failed to provide the necessary aid.
The Creek Experience: In $1836$ , approximately $3,500$ Creeks died during their forced removal.
The Cherokee Removal ( $1838$ ): The Cherokee held out the longest, emboldened by their Supreme Court victory. However, in $1838$ (after Jackson left office), the U.S. Army forcibly evicted them. The speaker argues this was a continuation of the policy established by Jackson and Jefferson.

Student Question: "Where were they migrated to?"
Instructor Response: They were moved to Oklahoma. The instructor points to a map showing the "Indian territory" distinction of Oklahoma, noting parts were also in Arkansas.
Student Question Regarding Move: "Why in the hell would they leave Georgia to go out to the desert?"
Instructor Response: The instructor agrees that the logic is difficult to defend from the perspective of the Native Americans, who viewed the new territory as a desert compared to their homelands.
Discussion on the nature of the treaties: The instructor notes that while $94$ treaties were signed during Jackson's presidency, they were almost always signed under the "threat of force." It was not a real choice; the options were to "be destroyed or be removed."

The Seminole Resistance: The U.S. military spent $20,000,000$ fighting the Seminole Indians in Florida who refused to move.
Underlying Motive: The policy was driven by white Americans' desire for expansion. Native American control of land and resources was viewed as a threat to that expansion.
Historical Perspective: One historian summarized the attitude as: "Georgia was ours, not theirs." Treaties were respected only until the land became valuable to white settlers.
Jackson’s Philosophy: Jackson is described as a "white frontier individual." In the conflict between white expansion and Native American rights, Jackson ensured white expansion won.
Outcome: The removal policy resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Native Americans due to disease, exposure, and starvation. While they were told their new tribal lands in the West would be respected, subsequent history (the reservation policy) would prove otherwise.