- The Indian Removal Act Of The 1830
The Relationship between John Ross and Andrew Jackson
Most people would assume the relationship between the two (Andrew Jackson and John Ross) was relaxed and very governmental.
It wasn’t,
The relationship between John Ross and Andrew Jackson was nonviolently harsh.
Jacksons feelings towards Ross and his tribe were strongly harsh and painfully disgusting. For example on history1800s.about.com, States what Jackson thought about the Cherokee Tribe. “Jackson’s attitude towards the Indians was that he was paternalistic believing the Indians to be like children in need of guidance”
Also, By the Cherokee nation Jackson was called “sharp Knife” because of how he did not treat the Cherokee or any Indian nation with respect.
Clearly the relationship between the two was harsh and rough.
The relationship became fiercer and fiercer every minute they were together as they argued more and more.
Jackson would continue to shut down all of his ideas about getting to keep some of the Cherokees ancient land, or not even leaving their eastern land at all.
John Ross would try to regain as much as he could for his people, but each time, Jackson would say no.
As you can see the relationship between the two was very harsh
Sources:
- The Trail of Tears
Andrew Jackson and his effect on the Cherokee Nation
The Cherokee Nation was extremely helpful to Jackson in the past.
So why did Jackson shut him down?
Yes the Cherokee Tribe did try to regain their land, but Andrew Jackson said no!
And of course it was also Jackson who proposed the Indian Removal Act.
Removing all eastern tribes including the Cherokees.
Even thought the Cherokee tribe helped Jackson win the Battle Of the Creek in 1813.
Many Cherokee’s lives were lost in that battle. Yet they weren’t rewarded. As it states in the Trail of Tears
But Jackson didn’t care about their help, he cared about white settlers and their wants.
Also told about the Cherokees, “they neither have intelligence, industry, the moral habits, nor the desire to improve” –Historynet.com.
Yet even though Andrew Jackson said this, the Cherokees had a government, a written language, an newspaper. And some like John Ross even had slaves and large estates.
But Jackson didn’t care.
Jackson was extremely unfair,he let lottery winners have the Indians houses, land and anything they owned.
For instance, John Ross came back home from Washington one night only to find his house had been taken by lottery winners! They let him stay the night but he had to pay a fee, to sleep in his own house.
As the book Trail of Tears : “The next day, he looked for his family. He found his wife, Quatie, and their two little children on the road to Tennessee soaked by the rain.” As you can see obviously, this lottery was unfair.
Andrew Jackson didn’t seem to think that Indians should be considered human.
The reason Jackson didn’t let any of the Eastern Tribe stay on their land, was because he thought white pioneers should have the rights to settle in in the east even though it meant pushing the Indians towards the west.
Jackson thought this would be beneficial to the eastern Indians.
It was not helpful, in fact it was very unfair.
This meant the Cherokees had to leave the ancient land, already built and developed lands, schools, and community.
And then rebuild all of those man made objects they created.
And leaving the ancient land, that they settled on years ago.
But even though Jackson thought this was beneficial to the Indians, he was only benefitting the white pioneers, while he was hurting the Indians.
Of course this was an extremely hard choice that the Indians had to understand completely and obviously.
Sources:
-The Trail of Tears
-Historynet.com
-Library of Congress
Why the Government and White pioneers wanted Indians to move?
You know when people tell you do something and you have to do it because they’re in charge?
Well, that was almost exactly what happened in the 1840’2 when the government told the eastern Indians to leave west also known as the Trail of Tears occurred.
White settlers were moving in from Europe, and wanted the land in the east.
Just because white settlers wanted the land in the land, the government decided to remove all the Indians and force them towards the west.
As you can see back in the 1800’s, white peoples opinions were valued more than any other race in America.
Andrew Jackson president at the time, had to listen to their opinions and wishes.
Jackson to wanted the land the Indians owned and lived on.
This caused him to propose the idea of the Indian Removal Act to the rest of the government.
This action was very beneficial to the white people, who were all ready:
∞ Stealing valuables
∞Taking over the Indians houses
∞ Tricking the Indians into giving up their land
-Trail of Tears
In fact the government gave the lottery winners their land.
John Ross lost his land to the government and their lottery.
Also, his children and wife on the road.
The government always sided with white pioneers.
During this time period if you were not white your opinion wasn’t valued by the government.
You weren’t to be considered an equal .
Sources:
- The Trail of Tears
- Historynet.com
Cherokees Thoughts
The Cherokees feelings toward the Indian Removal Act were harsh. Wouldn’t yours be to if your home was taken away by force.
Then you would have to survive on your own, and rebuild all of your land.
The Cherokee tribe actually was one of the few tribes who tried to stand up to Jackson. They also tried to adapt to white settlers ways.
Many Indians had slaves, or large estates.
The settlers took advantage of the Cherokee Nation and any of the other Indian Nation.
In fact white settlers stole valuables so often, Indians barley had a chance to defend themselves, they just fled.
The Cherokee Nation’s chief John Ross actually did try to stand up to Andrew Jackson and the rest of the government, but each time he failed, it was no use.
Ross told his tribe not to give up hope quite yet, in fact he told his tribe exactly this (historynet.com): “I have great hope in your firmness and that you will hold fast to the place you were raised.
Friends, if all of you unite together and be of one mind there is no danger.”
The quote means hold onto the wonderful times we have had together on our ancient land, though we must leave, you all are together and cherish that time with all your heart. The Cherokee Nation still mad realized to accept what their beloved chief had said to them.
The Cherokees in the end realized that John Ross was right, though they were upset about the Indian Removal act he was right. The Trail of Tears caused by the Indian Removal Act would be hard, but they still could cherish all their time together on their ancient land.
Sources:
∞Historynet.com
∞Trail of Tears