Native American Policy Before Jackson's Presidency

Before Jackson's presidency, how did the federal government view Native Americans, and what policy initiatives were undertaken by the government and private groups?

The federal government's view of Native Americans before Jackson's presidency was complex and evolved over time. Initially, the government aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society by encouraging them to adopt agricultural practices and customs of the dominant white culture. This approach was part of the broader goal of expanding white settlement and civilization.

Policy initiatives, such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, marked a shift in the government's stance towards Native Americans. This act, supported by President Jackson, mandated the forced relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. The policy reflected the belief that Native American presence hindered the progress of white society and that their removal was necessary for the advancement of civilization.

Final answer:

Before Jackson's presidency, federal policy aimed to assimilate Native Americans into American society but eventually moved towards their relocation. The Indian Removal Act of 1830, advocated by Jackson, mandated their removal to territories west of the Mississippi. This policy continued the Jeffersonian legacy of prioritizing white settlement over Native American rights.

Explanation:

Before President Jackson's administration, the federal government's view of Native Americans and its policy initiatives varied over time. During the Jeffersonian era, the sentiment was that Native Americans should be assimilated into the dominant American culture, which meant converting them into sedentary agriculturalists, mirroring the American yeoman farmer. The notion was that too much land for Native Americans inhibited their civility as interpreted by white society. Hence, policies under the Monroe administration aimed at moving Native Americans beyond the white frontier, resulting in smaller and more crowded reservations. This was partly criticized by figures such as Helen Hunt Jackson who called out the injustices suffered by Native tribes in her book A Century of Dishonor.

The Indian Removal Act of 1830, passed under Jackson's urging, was a pivotal policy that called for the relocation of all Indian groups living east of the Mississippi to territories in the west. Jackson's approach leaned heavily on the popular belief that Native American presence was incompatible with the vision of a White republic, which was evident in the Age of Jackson. This policy stretched back to Jefferson's idea that a surplus of land hindered the 'civilization' of Indians, thence policies were created to absorb them into American ways or forcefully remove them to make way for white establishments.

What was the impact of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 on Native American tribes?

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 had devastating consequences for Native American tribes. It led to the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans from their ancestral lands, resulting in hardship, suffering, and loss of life. Many tribes were relocated to unfamiliar territories where they faced disease, hunger, and conflict with other tribes.

The Trail of Tears, which refers to the forced relocation of the Cherokee Nation, stands as a tragic example of the detrimental effects of the Indian Removal Act. Thousands of Cherokee people died during the grueling journey to Oklahoma, where they were resettled. The act not only caused immense human suffering but also disrupted Native American communities and cultures, leading to long-lasting intergenerational trauma.