Native American Native American Policy Under Policy Under

Andrew JacksonAndrew Jackson

“How do we solve the “Indian Problem”?

What does the term “Indian Problem mean”?

The U.S. population is expanding and moving west into Native lands.

What does this imply?

Glancing back at recent Native American History what threechoices do the Natives have?

Black Hawk WarBlack Hawk War1827 - US govt says all

Native Americans must leave Illinois

Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk refuses, saying no one can own land

US settlers moved into village when they were away hunting

After Sauk attacks, US troops drive out Indians

Two Points of View (aka Two Points of View (aka “Join or Die”)“Join or Die”)Removal (Die if you

don’t leave).

Assimilation (Join if you

want to try and stay).

Indian Removal ActIndian Removal Act

• President Jackson pushes Congress to force Indians to move west of the Mississippi

• Congress established Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) as the new Indian homeland

• US govt creates Bureau of Indian Affairs

“The policy of the General Government toward the red man is not only liberal, but generous. He is unwilling to submit to the laws of the States and mingle with their population. To save him from this alternative, or perhaps utter annihilation, the General Government kindly offers him a new home, and proposes to pay the whole expense of his removal and settlement.” Andrew Jackson

1.What can be inferred about Jackson’s attitudes by the use of the word generous?

2.How does Jackson propose to “save” the Red Man?

3. Compare how Jackson describes the government “offer” to how the Natives might react?

AssimilationAssimilation• What does this word mean?

• To adopt the ways of another culture : to fully become part of a different society, country, etc.

Five “Civilized Tribes”Five “Civilized Tribes”

CherokeeChoctawCreekChickasawSeminoleWhat does the term “Civilized mean”?

Cherokee IndiansCherokee Indians• Lived peacefully in the

Appalachian Mountains of Georgia and Tennessee

• Adopted culture of whites - wrote and spoke English

• Had own written language and newspaper

• Based their government on the U.S. Constitution

• Owned slaves

Cherokee Sue For LandCherokee Sue For LandCherokee sued the

government of Georgia for taking their land.

Cherokee took legal action in Worcester vs. Georgia.

Supreme Court Justice Marshall ruled: Georgia’s actions are illegal and that the Cherokee can stay.

President Andrew JacksonPresident Andrew Jackson

“Chief Justice John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it.”

1) What is the job of the Supreme Court?

2) What is the job of the President?

3) What should happen if a government official refuses to do his job?

Trail of TearsTrail of TearsGeorgia govt.

smashes in Cherokee printing press

US troops move 18,000 Cherokee at gunpoint 800 miles from 1838-1839

25% of Cherokee died - most elderly and children

Trail of Tears AssignmentTrail of Tears Assignment• Write a three entry diary about your

experiences on the Trail of Tears and how your life was/will be affected by the move from Georgia to Oklahoma.

• Entry One - Before you leave (court case)• Entry Two - On the Trail (struggles during the

trip)• Entry Three - When you arrive in Indian

Territory (how life has changed)• Detail earns points - cover emotion, fears, pain,

successes with colorful adjectives and adverbs• Due next class