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Cherokee Indian DBQ

“The decision of the Jackson administration to remove the Cherokee Indians to lands west of the Mississippi River in the 1830's was more a reformulation of the national policy that had been in effect since the 1790's than a change in that policy.” Examining the administration of Jackson in comparison to the traditional course, which was carried out for about 40 years earlier, can easily prove the statement above. After 1825 the federal government attempted to remove all eastern Indians to the Oklahoma area. The Cherokee Indians, to protect themselves from removal, made up a constitution which said that the Cherokee Indians were sovereign and not subject to the laws of Georgia. When the Cherokee sought help from the Congress that only allotted lands in the West and urged them to move. The Supreme Court, however, in Worcester vs. Georgia, ruled that they constituted a "domestic dependent nation" not subject to the laws of Georgia. Jackson, who agreed with the frontiersman, was so outraged that he refused to enforce the decision. Instead he made the tribe give up its Georgia lands for a reservation west of the Mississippi. According to Document A, the map shows the relationship between time and policies, which affecte

were dependent and some people were independent, he believed that the independent of society should help the dependents to become independent. Jefferson was attempting to be benevolent toward the Indians, but Jefferson was only trying to acquire the land for the United States. Precedent was reinforced in the United States not respecting rights of sovereignty of the Cherokee Indians. According to Document H, “I have long viewed treaties with the Indians an absurdity not to be reconciled to the principles of our Government. The Indians are the subjects of the United States, inhabiting its territory and acknowledging its sovereignty, then is it not absurd for the sovereign to negotiate by treaty with the subject . . ..” Andrew Jackson had made the assumption that the Indians were subjects to the United States, which is not factual. Jackson is explaining that subjects could not negotiate a treaty, and that taking the land should be a right of the master, upon his slave. According to Document N, “...[I am] deeply impressed with the opinion that the removal of the Indian tribes from the lands which they now occupy . . . is of very high importance to our union, and may be accomplished on conditions and in a manner to promote the interest and happiness of those tribes . . . For the removal of the tribes within the limits of the State of Georgia, the motive has been peculiarly strong, arising from the compact with that State, whereby the United States are bound to extinguish the Indian title to the lands within it, whenever it may be done peaceably and on reasonable conditions.” Again, the United States is expanding upon Cherokee land, which Monroe believes that will benefit the Indians and benefit the Americans. The statement is a contradiction because Monroe as well as the president's before him, believe that they are helping the Indians, but are actually oppressing the Indians According to Document O, “It has long been the policy of Government to introduce among them the arts