Native Americans Flashcards
What was the Indian Removal Act?
An act passed on 28th May 1830 that authorized 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
Who supported the Indian Removal Act?
- President Jackson
- Southern and white settlers
- Several state governments, especially Georgia
Who opposed the Indian Removal Act?
- Indigenous tribes
- The Whig Party
- Some Christian missionaries and clergy
- Davy Crockett
What was one of the main criticisms of the Indian Removal Act?
Scholars have cited it as an early example of state-sanctioned ethnic cleansing, genocide, and settler colonialism.
What did the British Proclamation of 1763 state regarding Indian Territory?
It designated the region between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River as Indian Territory.
What was the impact of the Indian Removal Act on Native American tribes?
Overall, 60,000 members of the Cherokee, Muscogee, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw nations were forcibly removed from their ancestral homelands.
What were the causes behind the creation of the Indian Removal Act?
- Natives were seen as an obstacle to progress
- Jackson’s presidency made removal a reality
- Belief that Natives held resources and land entitled to Anglo-Americans
What does ‘Romantic Nationalism’ refer to in the context of Native American removal?
The belief that Anglo-Americans and Natives couldn’t live together due to fundamental differences.
What was one of the triggers for the Indian Removal Act?
The discovery of gold near Dahlonega, Georgia, in 1828, leading to the Georgia Gold Rush.
How did President Jackson view Native Americans?
He viewed them as an obstacle to progress and regarded Indian treaties with disdain.
How did Jackson justify the removal of Native populations?
He claimed it would benefit them by separating them from negative influences and was necessary for their preservation.
What were the terms of the Indian Removal Act?
- Authorized land grants west of the Mississippi
- Provided funds and power to move tribes
- Permanent Indian frontier guaranteed
- Existing treaties would not be broken
What was the Cherokee Nation v. Georgia lawsuit?
A Supreme Court case in 1831 where the Cherokees argued that Georgia’s state laws did not apply to them as they were a ‘nation within a nation’.
What was the outcome of the Cherokee Nation v. Georgia lawsuit?
The Cherokees won their case and were entitled to protection, but Jackson did not enforce the ruling.
What was the Trail of Tears?
The forced journey taken by Southeastern Natives to the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) from 1830-1850.
How many Natives were forcibly relocated to Indian Territory?
An estimated 60,000 Natives were forcibly relocated.
What was the estimated death count as a result of the Trail of Tears?
Estimated at 13,200 to 16,700.
What was one impact of the Trail of Tears on the Civilized Tribes?
Conflicts arose with other Native nations already in the Indian Territory, leading to intertribal warfare.
What challenges did the Choctaw face during removal?
Bureaucratic ineptitude and corruption caused many to die from exposure, malnutrition, exhaustion, and disease.
What was the outcome for the Seminole during the removal process?
A small group negotiated an agreement, leading to a series of Seminole Wars, with many relocated but some evading removal.
How many Creeks survived the removal journey to Oklahoma?
3,500 out of 16,000 who marched to Oklahoma survived.
What was the fate of the Chickasaw during the removal?
They surrendered their land but had to merge with the Choctaws due to lack of available land.
What happened to the Cherokee people during the forced removal?
They were forced from their homes, many held in internment camps, and faced a harsh journey resulting in significant deaths.
