Why were native americans forced to leave their lands during the 1830s
Why do you suppose
White men wanted the natives' land.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Removal_Act
http://www.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_removal
During the 1830s, the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the United States was primarily driven by the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This act, signed into law by President Andrew Jackson, authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties with Native American tribes, exchanging their lands in the Southeastern states for land west of the Mississippi River, in what is now known as Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).
The reasons behind this forced removal can be attributed to various factors:
1. Land Hunger: Settlers and gold seekers wanted access to the rich agricultural lands owned by Native American tribes in the Southeastern states. The discovery of gold in Georgia in the 1820s sparked a gold rush, increasing the pressure to acquire Native American lands.
2. Racial Prejudice: Many Americans held a deep-rooted belief in Manifest Destiny, which asserted that the United States had a divine mission to expand its territory from coast to coast. This ideology often fueled racist attitudes towards Native Americans, considering them as "savages" and impediments to progress.
3. Assimilation Policies: The American government promoted the policy of assimilation, seeking to "civilize" Native Americans by encouraging them to adopt white American customs, including Christianity, agriculture, and private land ownership. Removing tribes from their ancestral lands was seen as a way to enforce these assimilation efforts.
4. Economic Interests: Some American politicians, such as President Jackson, believed that resettlement would save Native Americans from the influence of white settlers and provide them with new opportunities for economic prosperity.
To get a more in-depth understanding and specific details about the forced removal of Native Americans during the 1830s, I recommend exploring historical resources, such as books, academic articles, or reputable websites dedicated to Native American history or the Indian Removal Act of 1830. These sources can provide a comprehensive view of the events, motivations, and consequences of this significant chapter in American history.