After demanding both political and military action on removing Native American Indians from the southern states of America in 1829, President Andrew Jackson signed this into law on May 28, 1830. Although it only gave the right to negotiate for their withdrawal from areas to the east of the Mississippi river and that relocation was supposed to be voluntary, all of the pressure was there to make this all but inevitable. All the tribal leaders agreed after Jackson’s landslide election victory in 1832.
It is generally acknowledged that this act spelled the end of Indian Rights to live in those states under their own traditional laws. They were forced to assimilate and concede to US law or leave their homelands. The Indian Nations themselves were force to move and ended up in Oklahoma.
The five major tribes affected were the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. These were called The Civilised Tribes that had already taken on a degree of integration into a more modern westernised culture, such as developing written language and learning to read and write.
It overturned the more concessionary attitude of ex-President George Washington that aimed for ‘acculturation’ after debate with the Indian Nations. Even in those distant times, there was heated debate in congress with such famous names as the future president Abraham Lincoln and Davy Crockett speaking out against it. Now it is considered with serious negativity by all involved.
American president Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-‐Republican party) led Congress to pass the Embargo Act of 1807. Effects on American shipping and markets: Agricultural prices and earnings fell. Shipping-related industries were devastated.
It has many benefits along with flaws. It does eat away at todays generation but the improvement in technology has a great impact on everyday life
The zoot suit was a flashy wool suit was made from material that was rationed heavily during the war, and its fashion message suggested to many American citizens a disdain for the war effort.
1. The people in wagons/horseback with regular clothing are the groups moving west. With them, they bring death/destruction.
2. They may be moving west for better job opportunities, freedom, or to explore.
3. The Native Americans and animals like bears/buffalo were already in the West. They are forced to flee, fight for their land, or even die.
4. The figure in the center of the painting is Lady Liberty. She may represent America as a whole + the way they brought their ideals, hopes, and technology to the West along with them.
5. John Gast likely did not believe that US expansion in the 1800s was justifiable b/c in this painting of his, he portrays some of the negative effects that American expansion had on several groups in the West. There is a pile of animal bones symbolizing death, and other animals, as well as Native Indians, can be seen running away from the people moving west, showing how American expansion caused many to leave their homes.
