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The advocate behind the Indian removal proposition was the seventh president, Andrew Jackson (1829-1837). The tribe effected the most was the Cherokee Nation. Before the start of the 1820’s, social stigma, prejudice and inequality existed between the Indians and whites. Past wars and anguish between Native Americans and whites created a boundary between the two contrasting cultures. The purpose of Indian Removal was in no way beneficial for Native Americans. The Trail of Tears left Native Americans homeless, vulnerable to death, and resistance towards federal officials.
How did Indian Removal start?
The start of a long bitter walk across the Mississippi stemmed from the pro stance by the Federal Government and Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson was the seventh president of the United States. He was born on March 15, 1767, and served eight years in presidency. Andrew Jackson viewed Indians as inferior to whites and barbarians. He described then as being backwards and simple minded.
He became obsessed with the existence of Indians, he moved forward with the plan to obliterate them from the East lands. (A biographical dictionary: presidents by neil a hamilton isbn:) Pressure from citizens and Federal Government to encroach on Native land was just the beginning to a devastating end. The purpose of the removal was a desire for land and expansion by the whites. “An 1825 census of the Cherokee Nation in the East showed a population of ‘native cherokee, white men married into the nation, 147; white women married into the Nation, 73; negro slaves, 1.277.” (The Trail of Tears across Missouri)
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The Cherokees located east of the Mississippi had one of two options when the Indian Removal Act first launched. They could either convert to the beliefs of the white man and stay or leave the land with their beliefs. (8 the trail of tears removal in the south by john p. bowers) Most Cherokee’s wanted to retain their beliefs so they complied with the decisions to leave. “Indian men and women continued to resist attempts by christian missionaries to change their way of life” (8 the trail of tears removal in the south by john p. bowers) Although, the few that stayed ended up not being able to keep their land due to the demands and laws passed by federal government. Either way, Indian existence would be removed from the East.
If being forced out of homes wasn’t bad enough, laws were passed to speed up the process. The removal deadline thought up by President Andrew Jackson set for May 1838. In order to reach a specific time frame, laws throughout states were made to push the Cherokee’s farther faster. A law was made in Georgia Courts that any Native Americans were unable to sue or testify against whites in court. This made it difficult to achieve justice when antagonized by pro removal whites. Cherokee’s who spoke against the removal were automatically subject to arrest and imprisonment.
Trespassers arrived on Cherokee land, but because of the law passed, little was done to resolve the issue. In October of 1829 a law passed for a penalty for selling land inside the national boundaries. (Voices from the trail of tears) this ultimately led to the Cherokee’s difficulty to sell their lands for pocket money. Legal foundations of the Indian Policy was that the Federal Government would be the sole representative for all land matters and only treaties negotiated through officials would be deemed legitimate. <6> (the trail of tears removal in the south by john p. bowers)
How were the travel conditions and what where it’s effects on Native American People? Before the move, The Cherokee National Inventory was suitable for living. “The Cherokee National Inventory of 1825 showed that the nation owned 17,531 cattle; 7,653 horses; 47,732 swine; 2,556 sheep; 430 goats; 752 looms; 2,486 spinning wheels; 2,948 plows; 10 sawmills; 31 gristmills; 62 blacksmith shops; 8 cotton machines; 9 stores; 6 turnpike gates; and 18 ferries.” (The trail of tears across Missouri by Joan gilbert) during the move and after, supplies dwindled leaving the Cherokees in a state of Turmoil.
Specifically in Tennessee, Cherokees were divided into groups of a thousand people. Families were often separated. Inventory was low at 645 wagons and 5000 horses. With dwindling supplies, many Cherokees suffered from starvation, malnutrition and freezing. The conditions in which Natives were walking through were not sanitary. Water supply was limited and disease broke out. The cold winter weather caused colds, flus and measles. Older generations and children were the first to perish.
Cherokee leaders and guides grew worried about the state of their groups. Letters were sent to government officials. Though little was done to reassure the conductors, the only option they had was to keep on moving forward. From state to state, there was always some form of kind hospitality from citizens. “There were examples of kindness in Kentucky recorded by conductors. A women who was ready to give birth stayed behind with two friends and made a little camp.
They planned to catch up with the others later. Though the women had supplies, the conductor wrote, ‘people who lived nearby took care of them.” (The trail of tears across Missouri) Methodist missionaries were also partial to hospitality because they signed the resolution. Congregationalist, Baptists, and Presbyterian missionaries came up with other resolutions to support the Cherokee. Some missionaries and others were arrested and accused of encouraging Cherokee resistance by helping. At one point the suffering of Cherokee groups caught the attention of several civilians in state. Sixty civilians signed a protest against the removal. (Trail of Tears Across Missouri) this goes to show that not all of the white population was pro-removal. With the help of good Samaritans, lives were revived.
With deteriorating conditions, it begs the question; did anyone send a warning? A letter written by G.S. Townsend in 1838 to The Bureau of Indian Affairs could have saved many lives and money if taken into account. G.S. Townsend warned of against the travel because of comfort and economic reasons associated with the Cherokee. the warnings stated by G.S. Townsend were not taken into account. It’s as if officials did not care. In Illinois camping was made impossible. The cold harsh weather blew out fires, resulting in cold winter nights. When food became a necessity, Cherokee’s would often have to kill their own livestock in order to support their people. “They died so fast they could not be buried.” (The trail of tears across Missouri)
The groups that drudged the whole walk and made it out to the west were not happily welcomed. It was quite the opposite. Western Tribes and settlers were not eager to share their lands. Conflicts between eastern and western culture collided, stirring up more trouble. “The Cherokees found little, if any, warm welcome from emigrants who had gone before them.
There were three seperate factions now together in the West: the Old settlers were those who had been moving west since the 1700s; the members of the Treaty Party, those who signed the Treaty of New Echta; and the, majority, those who had given their support to Chief Ross.” (The treaty of tears across Missouri) Acquiring land was no easy task. Money was an issue because no reimbursement was made immediately after leaving the homeland. Land owners with large plots would toll groups that passed through their lands. Leaving group’s debt-ed even more than when they started the journey.
What led to retaliation by Cherokees?
When the Cherokees were forced out of their homes, they were told they would get money back from the land they left; a promise by the government. Surely enough, the government ignored Cherokee complaints. It was nothing but broken promises. The Trail of Tears associated with the Removal Killed over 25% of Indians. The hardships encountered and endeared by the Natives, cost them money, food, family and lives. The Natives did not ask for this.
They did not want this. The government and officials insisted it would be for the best, but who would it benefit overall? The White men. For the desire of land and expansion by the white majority, a culture suffered.
The Trail of Tears sums up the emotions and pain felt by the Cherokee’s. Many died as a result of poor planning and execution by the government. Pleas, warnings and resolutions were ignored. Precautions were not made in order to provide comfort and security for the long travel. Weather conditions and limited supplies were unaccounted for. Could Indian Removal have gone smoother?
Yes, if it were planned thoroughly, carefully analyzed, and backed my actual compassion, than maybe. But, unfortunately none of that was the case. It all happened so fast, there was hardly any planning for weather conditions and supplies for the thousands of Cherokee’s and other tribes enduring the walk. The compassion for Indians and their comfort was not apparent. The Cherokee’s who made it to the west lived on to tell their stories, in hope that they would be passed down from generation to generation.
