Did Andrew Jackson's Removal Act Benefit the Indians? Essay

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Robert V. Remini shows that Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act benefits the Native Americans. Andrew Jackson made notice of the issue with the Indians in his inaugural speech on March 4, 1829. He declared that he wanted to give humane and considerable attention to the Indian’s rights and wants in respect to the government and people. Jackson knew that meant to get rid of all remaining tribes beyond the Mississippi River. He (Jackson) believed that the Indians would be better off in the west; without the influence from the white man or local authority. Jackson hired two Tennessee generals to go visit the Creeks and Cherokees to see if the Indians would leave voluntarily. In that, those who did not leave would be protected by the …show more content…
On the other hand, Alfred A. Cave disagreed with Robert Remini’s view that Andrew Jackson’s Removal Act did in fact benefit the Natives. Cave believed that the Act did not authorize giving land rights to the Native Americans nor did it allow their forced removal. But Jackson allowed this to happen even though it was abusing his presidential powers under the Trade and Intercourse Act of 1802. Jackson stated that it would be cruel to force them to leave the lands where they had lived so long. The nation’s actions towards the Indians reflected the nation’s character. Jackson argued that the federal government could not do anything about the Indian’s problems within state borders. The Indian Removal Act didn’t force the Indians to give-up theland they lived on. It paid the Natives for their land improvements, funded transportation to the west, and negotiated land exchanges. John Henry Eaton was worried about the American Board of Commissions of Foreign Missions and their anti-removal campaign. Eaton wanted to make sure that the Governor of Georgia knew to avoid “the appearance of harshness towards the Indians.” If any misconduct towards the Natives was shown, it was sure that Jackson’s Removal Plan would deteriorate. The Governor of Michigan and Lewis Cass wrote an article in the North American Review stating that the administration
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