Andrew Jackson

A detailed Summary of Andrew Jackson

Was Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Policy motivated by Humanitarian Impulses?

Taking Sides/Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American History.

Historians have long debated on whether or not Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy was motivated by Humanitarian Impulses. This debate can be seen in the writings of Robert V. Remini in "Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Freedom" and in Anthony F.C. Wallace in "The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians." Remini argues that Jackson's Indian removal policy was motivated by Humanitarian motives, in order to protect the Indians from destruction by white hands. On the other end of the debate is Wallace who argues that Jackson was not motivated by humanitarian impulses, but oversaw a harsh removal policy in regards to the Indians welfare.

Remini has outlined several issues to support his argument in favor of Jackson. The attitudes of white Americans towards Indians varied at times. Some whites believed that the Indians could be integrated into white society, but others felt the Indians were savage and inferior. The colonists would at times drive the Indians away from their homelands an

Wallace has cited several examples that Jackson did indeed oversee a harsh policy of removal when dealing with Indians. In the state of Georgia a crisis was began to form when the Cherokee Indians refused to move and developed their own constitution that nullified Georgia law and in effect made the Indian nation a state within a state. By these actions the Cherokee would never sell their land. Georgia looked to the new president to resolve this crisis between the Indians and the Georgia state government. Jackson was quick to respond in implementing a removal program of the Indians that would resolve the crisis. The issue of Indian affairs was raised in the twenty-first congress by the Cherokee claim to being a separate state within a state. Jackson contended that if Indians did not move they were subject to that states law and held no sovereignty on their own. Jackson also realized that some tribes did tried to become civilized, but realized the only hope of putting the !

Legislation was carried out against the Indians which abolished any form of government the Indians had developed for their tribes, the chiefs were stripped of power, it was forbidden for the tribes to pass any laws within the tribe, and the Indians were denied the rights to vote in the states they resided or to bring lawsuits against others or to testify in trials. Jackson also let Indian land to be sold to new buyers before it was ceded. Wallace also stated, "Jackson and his administration were determined to permit state sovereignty, because it would allow the harassment of the Indians," which would allow the states to eventually force the Indians out of the state.

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