Download Westward Movement & American Identity: Indian Removal & National Character - Prof. Stephen and more Study notes World History in PDF only on Docsity! The Early West 25/02/2008 15:05:00 ← In what ways was westward movement central to white America’s sense of itself? ← ← Movement West 1790-1849, 4.5 m Americans crossed the Appalachians, one of the great migrations in human history in 1790, western states contained 3% US population by 1830, 28% 1850, over 50%, the typical American was a westerner movement west one of the most salient features of American life between 1790-1860 Indian Removal 1820-1844, Americans push Native Americans off remaining tribal lands east of the Mississippi Indian population in east drops from 125k to 30k Whites claim 3m acres in Midwest, 25m acres in Old Southwest Which tribes? Chickasaw, Choctaw, Cherokee, Creek, and Seminole Why the urgency for removal? o During War of 1812, even pro-American tribes in trouble: Americans no longer needed Indian “buffer” Native Americans couldn’t play Europeans off each other Native Americans were “squatting” on some of the most valuable real estate in the country Resulting shift in federal policy: o Old policy: voluntary removal (egged on, of course though) o GA, MS, AL pass new laws Whites encouraged to move into Indian lands Debts owed to Indians voided Indians were not allowed to testify in court in cases involving whites Direct violation of federal treaties o Worcester v. Georgia Can decide what is or isn’t illegal Can’t act President can President was a southerner and platationer o New policy: divide and conquer ← ← The Trail of Tears The Cherokee Treaty of New Echota (1835) o 500 out of all SHOW UP o 21 actually sign Ratified in Congress by one vote in 1836 1838, Cherokee presented petition of 15,000 members (the bast majority of entire trive) May 1838, army under Winfield Scott rounded up 15k Cherokee + 2k slaves and put them in stockades. 2.5k died there Rest sent mostly by foot, 1.2k miles to OK. 2k died en route Justification: NAs couldn’t adapt to white ways, needed to be removed for their own protection Problem: Cherokee by 1838, was the tribe who had most successfully adapted: o Communities replicated white communities, with churches, schools, private farms o Written alphabet; newspaper o Class structure o Only skin is different really At least one observer noted that removal was the cause not the solution of any remaining gap “… differed from them only in a browner complexion, less vicious, and more sober.” So why remove them? 25/02/2008 15:05:00 ← 25/02/2008 15:05:00 ←
