Westward Expansion Effects on Native Americans
How did territorial expansion, land policies, and legislation affect Native Americans?
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance was law that allowed new lands to become territories (and later states) when their population of white settlers reached a certain number. The Northwest Ordinance also provided for public schools. This region later became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin and could not allow slavery. This was the first time the national government had taken a stand against the spread of slavery. They were motivated by the ideas of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Although the Northwest Ordinance promised that the "utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians, their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent," because the Land Ordinance and the Northwest Ordinance also encouraged westward expansion, Native Americans were forced to give up their lands and move farther west.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created the Northwest Territory. The Northwest Ordinance was law that allowed new lands to become territories (and later states) when their population of white settlers reached a certain number. The Northwest Ordinance also provided for public schools. This region later became the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin and could not allow slavery. This was the first time the national government had taken a stand against the spread of slavery. They were motivated by the ideas of the Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal." Although the Northwest Ordinance promised that the "utmost good faith shall always be observed towards the Indians, their lands and property shall never be taken from them without their consent," because the Land Ordinance and the Northwest Ordinance also encouraged westward expansion, Native Americans were forced to give up their lands and move farther west.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Andrew Jackson. This law provided land and money the president could use to enter treaties with Native Americans. In turn, the Native Americans would agree to leave their lands east of the Mississippi and move west. This law especially affected Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. Because these Native American tribes resisted this law, Americans used their military to intrude their land and force them to move. Having no choice, some Native American tribes volunteered to move father west. Other tribes, such as the Cherokee, tried to live in peace with the American settlers by adopting many American customs. The Cherokee began using the American written language, governmental system, and even the plantation system with slavery. The Cherokee also tried to resist removal from their homes by taking their case to the Supreme Court. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee had the right to keep their land, President Andrew Jackson ignored the court's ruling. President Jackson used the army to force the Cherokee to move from their homes in the Appalachian Mountains across the Mississippi River to present-day Oklahoma. This land in Oklahoma was designated for the Native Americans and known as Indian Territory. The Cherokee’s journey from their homes in the Appalachian Mountains to Indian Territory is know as "The Trail of Tears." On this journey, about one fourth of the Cherokee population died as they were forced to march by foot during the winter.
The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was a law passed by the United States Congress and signed by President Andrew Jackson. This law provided land and money the president could use to enter treaties with Native Americans. In turn, the Native Americans would agree to leave their lands east of the Mississippi and move west. This law especially affected Native American tribes in the southeastern United States. Because these Native American tribes resisted this law, Americans used their military to intrude their land and force them to move. Having no choice, some Native American tribes volunteered to move father west. Other tribes, such as the Cherokee, tried to live in peace with the American settlers by adopting many American customs. The Cherokee began using the American written language, governmental system, and even the plantation system with slavery. The Cherokee also tried to resist removal from their homes by taking their case to the Supreme Court. Even though the Supreme Court ruled that the Cherokee had the right to keep their land, President Andrew Jackson ignored the court's ruling. President Jackson used the army to force the Cherokee to move from their homes in the Appalachian Mountains across the Mississippi River to present-day Oklahoma. This land in Oklahoma was designated for the Native Americans and known as Indian Territory. The Cherokee’s journey from their homes in the Appalachian Mountains to Indian Territory is know as "The Trail of Tears." On this journey, about one fourth of the Cherokee population died as they were forced to march by foot during the winter.
The Seminole tribe tried a different approach to resist removal. The Seminoles decided to go to war with the American army in Florida. Because the Seminoles lost to the Americans, many were captured and forced to move to Indian Territory. Even though Native Americans were promised land in the west, settlers and the military often broke treaties. White settlers wanted Native American lands because of the availability of gold, silver, or rich farmland. This caused conflicts between settlers and Native Americans that later led to a series of Indian wars. These conflicts were sometimes used as an excuse by American soldiers and settlers to fight and kill the Native Americans. Native Americans resisted until they were defeated and forced onto lands farther west.
Documents
4-5.4_westward_expansion_effects_on_native_americans_notes.pdf |
4-5.4_westward_expansion_effects_on_native_americans_notes.doc |
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-DEoN3ydt4/ShgNv_N070I/AAAAAAAAAs8/evzbrI4GTGg/s1600/Trail+of+Tears.jpgSources
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: http://thefederalistpapers.integratedmarket.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/northwest-ordinance-2.png
Image 2: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-DEoN3ydt4/ShgNv_N070I/AAAAAAAAAs8/evzbrI4GTGg/s1600/Trail+of+Tears.jpg
Image 3: https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/93c2eeee-173e-4815-a3eb-54a7f4c2bc0d/fe1a6cfa-0bba-4427-acc0-0ddc4d1adeab.jpg
Image 4: https://www.americanhistoryusa.com/static/images/cherokee-eviction-1838.jpg
Image 5: http://files.ctctcdn.com/766c6672201/85a1e817-6b39-403e-b604-91e8cbf68c9e.jpg
Text: ed.sc.gov
Image 1: http://thefederalistpapers.integratedmarket.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/northwest-ordinance-2.png
Image 2: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Z-DEoN3ydt4/ShgNv_N070I/AAAAAAAAAs8/evzbrI4GTGg/s1600/Trail+of+Tears.jpg
Image 3: https://userscontent2.emaze.com/images/93c2eeee-173e-4815-a3eb-54a7f4c2bc0d/fe1a6cfa-0bba-4427-acc0-0ddc4d1adeab.jpg
Image 4: https://www.americanhistoryusa.com/static/images/cherokee-eviction-1838.jpg
Image 5: http://files.ctctcdn.com/766c6672201/85a1e817-6b39-403e-b604-91e8cbf68c9e.jpg