AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

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AND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTIONAND THE U.S. CONSTITUTION

TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY

Indian Removal Act of 1830In the early 1800’s the United States experienced rapid growth. As the U.S. began to pursue westward expansion, they began to seek lands that were already inhabited by native peoples. U.S. citizens began to pressure the federal government into taking forcible possession of these lands. In May of 1830, President Andrew Jackson played a role in passing the Indian Removal Act.

The Indian Removal Act would allow the federal government to begin negotiations with tribes. Treaties were negotiated that offered tribes new land in the West in exchange for lands on which they currently lived. The policy gave the government the right to promise fi nancial incentives and assistance to tribes willing to relocate. Many tribes never received compensation to the extent of which it was promised.

While President Jackson claimed with enthusiasm that the Indian Removal Act was a peaceful approach, which would only result in voluntary relocations, it ultimately resulted in the forced removal of many tribal nations from their native lands.

STUDENT ACTIVITYUsing Digital History’s Indian Removal Timeline as a point of reference, (visit: http://tinyurl.com/pbae9q5) ask students to work in groups of 3 to 5 to create their own timeline that highlights all of the treaties following the Indian Removal Act.

Ask students to use narratives and illustrations to describe the following within their timeline:

1. Treaty Name/Date

2. Tribes Impacted

3. If the relocation was peaceful

4. Relocation route

5. Key Historical Figures

Classroom Discussion 1. Describe the political climate and culture that led to the

passing of the Indian Removal Act.

2. Why did some tribes agree to relocate, despite not wanting to leave their native lands behind?