Indian Removal Act

Examples of Indian Removal Act in the following topics:

• American Indian Policy and the Trail of Tears

  • The Indian Removal Act of 1830 set the stage for the forced relocation of American Indians from the east to the west.
  • The Indian Removal Act was signed into law by President Jackson in 1830, and it had a profound and devastating impact on the lives of Americans.
  • For American Indians, the Removal Act brought death and destruction.
  • Congress opened a fierce debate on an Indian Removal Bill.
  • Jackson's Removal Act called for relocation of all tribes to lands west of the river.

• Racial Prejudice in the Jackson Era

  • Congress passed the Indian Removal Act in 1830, which authorized the President to negotiate treaties that exchanged Indian tribal lands in the eastern states for lands west of the Mississippi River.
  • A special Indian territory was established in what is now the eastern part of Oklahoma in 1834.
  • Despite protests from the elected Cherokee government and many whites who supported the tribe, the Cherokees were forced to trek to the Indian Territory in 1838.

• American Indian Policy

  • The reason given to justify the Indian removal, as stated by Thomas Jefferson, was to, "give them a space to live undisturbed by white people as they gradually adjust to civilized ways."
  • The outcome of this devastating removal cost the natives their tribal identity and independence.
  • The Dawes Act (also called the "General Allotment Act" or "Dawes Severalty Act of 1887") was adopted by Congress in 1887 and authorized the president of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians.
  • The stated objective of the Dawes Act was to stimulate assimilation of Indians into American society.
  • Roosevelt administration supported passage in 1934 of the Indian Reorganization Act.

• American Indian Relocation

  • The resolution established that Congress would pass termination acts on a tribe by tribe basis.
  • Most such acts included the cessation of federal recognition and all the federal aid that came along with that designation.
  • Approximately 2,500,000 acres (10,000 km2) of trust land was removed from protected status during these years.
  • During 1953–1964, over 100 tribes were terminated, approximately 1,365,801 acres (5,527 km2) of trust land was removed from protected status, and 13,263 Indians lost tribal affiliation.
  • In 1975, Congress had implicitly rejected the termination policy by passing the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, increasing tribal control over reservations and assisting with funding to building schools closer to the reservations.

• American Indians and the War Effort

  • Some 44,000 American Indians served in the United States military during World War II.
  • At the time, this was one-third of all able-bodied Indian men from 18 to 50 years of age and 10% of all Indian population.
  • Described as the first large-scale exodus of indigenous peoples from the reservations since the removals of the 19th century, the men's service with the US military in the international conflict was a turning point in American Indian history.
  • Many military awards offered to American Indian soldiers were later used during the termination period by the Bureau of Indian Affairs as proof that American Indians were eager to assimilate into white mainstream American culture.
  • The war's aftermath, says historian Allison Bernstein, marked a "new era in Indian affairs" and turned "American Indians" into "Indian Americans."

• American Indian Rights

  • The fight for American Indian rights expanded in the 1960s, resulting in the creation of the American Indian Movement.
  • In 1965, the Voting Rights Act put an end to individual states claims on whether or not American Indians were allowed to vote through a federal law.
  • Before the Voting Rights Act, many states had found ways to prevent American Indians from voting, such as residency or literacy requirements.
  • With the passage of the Indian Civil Rights Act (ICRA) in 1968, also called the Indian Bill of Rights, American Indians were guaranteed - at least on paper - many civil rights.
  • One of the primary advocacy organizations for American Indian Rights, the American Indian Movement (AIM), was also formed during the 1960s.

• The Dawes Act and Indian Land Allotment

  • The Dawes Act authorized the President to survey Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians.
  • The Dawes Act, also called General Allotment Act, or Dawes Severalty Act of 1887, adopted by Congress in 1887, authorized the President of the United States to survey Indian tribal land and divide it into allotments for individual Indians.
  • The stated objective of the Dawes Act was to stimulate assimilation of Indians into American society.
  • The act also provided that the government would purchase Indian land "excess" to that needed for allotment and open it up for settlement by non-Indians.
  • Roosevelt administration supported passage in 1934 of the Indian Reorganization Act.

• Indian Resistance and Survival

  • Indian tribes fought over 40 wars for survival, killing at least 19,000 white settlers and soldiers and at least 30,000 American Indians.
  • Conflicts in the Southeast included the Creek War and Seminole Wars, both before and after the Indian Removals of most members of the Five Civilized Tribes, beginning in the 1830s under President Andrew Jackson.
  • Indian Wars continued into the early 20th century.
  • Bureau of the Census (1894), The Indian Wars under the government of the United States have been more than 40 in number.
  • Census Bureau estimated that about 0.8% of the U.S. population was of American Indian or Alaska Native descent.

• The Madison Presidency

  • James Madison's presidency was characterized by his policies toward American Indians, his economic plans, and the War of 1812,
  • Although there are scant details, Madison often met with Southeastern and Western American Indians, including the Creek and Osage.
  • However, in his last act before leaving office, Madison vetoed the Bonus Bill of 1817, which would have financed more internal improvements, including roads, bridges, and canals.
  • At the time, Britain used its navy to prevent American ships from trading with France—an act the United States considered a violation of international law.
  • Dolley Madison ordered the Gilbert Stuart painting of George Washington to be removed as the White House staff hurriedly prepared to flee.

• Settlers and the West

  • As an organic act, the ordinance created a civil government in the territory under the direct jurisdiction of the Congress.
  • The ordinance was thus the prototype for the subsequent organic acts that created organized territories during the westward expansion of the United States.
  • Senate, had the power to appoint and remove the Governor and officers of the territory instead of Congress.
  • The Territorial Secretary was authorized to act for the Governor, if he died, was absent, was removed, or resigned from office.
  • After the Indian confederation had killed more than 800 soldiers in two battles—the worst defeats ever suffered by the U.S. at the hands of the Indians—President Washington assigned General Anthony Wayne command of a new army, which eventually defeated the confederation and thus allowed European-Americans to continue settling the territory.