As a nation, with established order, the United States had many laws and control over the states. All of the people in the nation were to abide by these rules; however, some Indians were not willing to function under the United States. The Cherokees in particular, adopted a constitution and declared, “they were not subject to laws or control of any state or the federal government”(Shi and Tindall 332). Conflict such as this could create a type of “civil war” between the Indians and the United States. Realizing the potential problems this kind of attitude could cause, Jackson sought to relocate the Indians. He saw this as an “act of mercy, a ‘wise and humane policy’ that would save the Indians from ‘utter annihilation’” (Shi and Tindall 330). …show more content…
This was not the case. Jackson acquired their land in exchange for property in the west. Some tribes even received more than just land. For example, in 1835 certain Cherokee leaders “accepted land and payment in exchange for relocation”(Ushistory.org, "The Trail of Tears — The Indian Removals."). These relocated Indians would not be nomads, roaming the wilderness with no “home”. Instead, they would have their own property far from the US Government and laws, where they could live as they