Notes

2,200 Miles

In the early 1800s, it was already beginning to become clear to the leaders of the United States that it was fate that they must move west and conquer more land. Besides the obstacles of France and Spain, who both owned thirds of North America at the time, there was another problem at hand: the Native Americans, who had lived there for an incredibly long time. However, because it was the white american’s God given right to own North America in its entirety (Manifest Destiny), the fact that the tribes had lived off the land for millenniums was rendered to be meaningless. The Trail of Tears was indubitably an unnecessarily cruel injustice to the Cherokee. Rather than coming to a compromise with the Indians, the government removed the Indians from their homes in a manner more savage than how the Indians supposedly acted.

The European settlers did not allow the Native Americans to acculturate into their society peacefully. In document A, Andrew Jackson states, “My friends, circumstances render it impossible that you can flourish in the midst of a civilized community.” Jackson says it is impossible that Native Americans could ever assimilate into ‘civilization’. He does not state any reasoning for this claim other than vague ‘circumstances’. There are no actual reasons why the Native Americans could not have been as ‘civilized’ as the European settlers. Even some Cherokee people had already successfully assimilated and lived the typical European way, converting to Christianity and learning English. In addition, in document G, President James Monroe writes, “The removal of the tribes from the territory which they now inhabit … would not only shield them from impending ruin, but promote their welfare and happiness.” At face value, this statement seems as though James Monroe is concerned for the well being of the Native Americans. However, the problem is that there was no real “impending ruin” that they could face if they stayed. This suggests a threat to enact “impending ruin” on the Indian people if they were not removed.

The initial removal of the Native Americans was forceful and without regard for their well being. In document C, the author writes, “