Andrew Jackson's Tumultuous Relationship With Native Americans

Native Americans and Americans always have had a very tumultuous relationship. Starting from the first discovery and then colonization of the Native American's land; Americans pillaged and plundered villages, which purposefully depleted the Native American population. The tumultuous relationship boiled over when Andrew Jackson, known for his hatred of the British and Native Americans, signed the Indian Removal Act in 1830 (Tindall and Shi 342). The Indian Removal Act authorized Jackson to give the Native Americans land west of the Mississippi River in exchange for the land in the south and in the east (Tindall and Shi 342). The removal of the Native American's was primarily for land and urbanization of that land, which were held by the Native Americans at that point. The Native Americans were then forcefully removed by the United …show more content…
Strengths of his remarks include his sincerity as he tries to help the Native Americans as much as he can before they leave their sacred land. His use of pathos and him trying to show how much he cares by saying “This is no sudden determination on the part of the President, whom you and I must now obey (Scott). Weaknesses of his remarks though not many include his semi-approval of the heinous act as well as telling the Cherokee that they have been lackadaisical because they have not followed the orders earlier and left. John Ross in his letter “Our Hearts are Sickened” evokes in the Native Americans a sense of distrust in the American people and makes many believe that even though the Cherokee have tried to assimilate it has had no effect and he wants his nation to be recognized. Strengths of Ross include his argument for why the Cherokees should be a nation; in his argument, he says “We have learned your religion. We have read your sacred books. Hundreds of our people have embraced their doctrines, practiced the virtues they teach, cherished the hopes they awaken,