| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
Indian Removal was a policy of the US Government to move the Native Americans of the Five Civilized Tribes from their homelands in the southeastern United States to Indian Territory, far to the west of the Mississippi River. This was a distance of from a few hundred to 1000 miles depending on the starting location of the tribe. Indian Removal occurred largely during the 1830s under president Andrew Jackson, who had been a notable military campaigner in a war against the Creek.
The number who died during forced relocations is estimated at around 4,000. Some, such as the Seminoles, engaged in lengthy warfare to resist removal. Especially vulnerable were the old, the sick, and the young. This forced movement became known as the Trail of Tears. There are horrifying stories carried down to this day by the descendants of the trailwalkers about brutal treatment by government soldiers, the horrible starvation and cold, and disease and death.
Strangely enough, some escaped removal. For example, the Choctaw Nation of Mississippi is one of the state's largest employers in its gaming casinos. Many individuals and small groups escaped from the process, forming, among others, the Eastern Band Cherokee, based in North Carolina.
The Indian Removal was declared illegal by the United States Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court of the United States located in Washington, D. is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States to interpret and decide questions of federal law. It is he, but the US government ignored the court's decision. After the decision was handed down by Chief JusticeThe Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the Judicial Branch of the government of the United States, and presides over the Supreme Court of the United States. The office is often incorrectly referred to as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. John MarshallAlternative meanings: John Marshall (archaeologist), Jack Marshall (New Zealand John Marshall ( September 24, 1755 July 6, 1835), Chief Justice of the United States and principal founder of American constitutional law and the Supreme Court of the United S, President Andrew Jackson infamously said:
"John Marshall has made his decision. Now let him enforce it!"
The horrible mistreatment of the indigenous population and the practice of slaverySlavery is involuntary servitude, enforced by violence or other, clear forms of coercion. It is sometimes regarded as an expectation associated with other relationships, such as marriage and/or other family relations, military service, or debt relationshi are considered two of the largest stains on the history of the United States.