What gave Andrew Jackson the power to remove the Cherokee from their land?

Georgia state laws
Acts of Congress
two Supreme Court decisions
treaties signed by the Cherokee

I'll be glad to check your answer.

Acts of Congress? Weren't the congress against the Indians and all that?

I disagree.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Removal_Act

the removal act isnt even an option. i honestly thought about it.

To understand what gave Andrew Jackson the power to remove the Cherokee from their land, you need to examine the historical context of the time and the legal frameworks involved.

The primary factor that contributed to the removal of the Cherokee was the adoption of policies by the United States government, particularly under the administration of President Andrew Jackson. Jackson supported the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which was passed by Congress and signed into law. This act authorized the relocation of several indigenous tribes, including the Cherokee, from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated territories west of the Mississippi River.

While the Indian Removal Act provided the legal foundation for the forced removal of Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, other factors could be considered as well. Here are the options you provided:

1. Georgia state laws: During this period, the state of Georgia passed laws imposing its jurisdiction over Cherokee territory, effectively ignoring the sovereignty of the Native American nation. Georgia argued that the Cherokee should be subject to state laws and that they were not entitled to their ancestral lands. This created tension between the Cherokee and the state government, ultimately making the removal more feasible.

2. Acts of Congress: As mentioned before, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Jackson. This act provided the legal basis for the forced removal of Native American tribes.

3. Two Supreme Court decisions: In the landmark Supreme Court cases of Worcester v. Georgia in 1832 and Cherokee Nation v. Georgia in 1831, the court recognized the sovereign status of the Cherokee Nation and affirmed their rights to their ancestral lands. However, despite these decisions, President Jackson reportedly said, "John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it," indicating his intention to proceed with the removal regardless of the court's rulings.

4. Treaties signed by the Cherokee: The Cherokee Nation had previously signed treaties with the United States government, affirming their rights to their land and defining the boundaries of their territory. However, these treaties were disregarded and violated by the government when the removal policy was implemented.

In summary, while two Supreme Court decisions and treaties signed by the Cherokee recognized their rights to their land, President Andrew Jackson and the Indian Removal Act of 1830 provided the political, legal, and necessary support to relocate the Cherokee from their ancestral lands.