Trail of Tears and Indian Removal Act
What happened ?
On May 28, 1830 the Indian Removal Act was put into place, during the presidency of Andrew Jackson. The Choctaw, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole Native Americans lived in present day southeast United States. As population increased more treaties were made so that the government would gain land. Between 1800 an 1830 the Choktaws signed eight treaties and each time lost even more of their traditional homeland. In late September the Choktaw's signed the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek, this was the first treaty enacted under authority of the Indian Removal Act. The Choktaws were the first to leave, later others were forced out of their homes. The government forced 15,000 Native Americans from their homes. As they walked to Oklahoma they suffered from hunger, dehydration, exhaustion, disease, and hypothermia, 4,000 Native Americans died.
Why is it important ?
Even though government took the southeastern land from the Native Americans, as population in the states grew the government wanted to expand west. The War of 1812 and the british victory gave the americans an "identity". This gave them a need for Native American land. The government sent out the soldiers from the war to get the land but instead of payment with money they would pay them with land. In my opinion, the importance of this is that people have to give up things that are important to them so that other people can gain what they want. And maybe in the case of the existence of the United States removing them was a good thing but then again taking people out of their homes and forcing them to leave is wrong.