In the 19th century, the question of American civilization was frequently raised and discussed at different levels. It was expected that Native Americans could sell their forests and become farmers on the same grounds the whites had at the moment (Takaki, 2008). Andrew Jackson was the author of this idea who demonstrated his humane and just intentions. However, when he became the President of the United States, his goals were changed and led to the creation of one of the most ambiguous and provocative movements, the Trail of Tears. American Indians were imagined as unable to civilize, and the power of white settlers was great, which allowed the government to ignore Indians’ achievements, petitions, and readiness to cooperate and maintain the Trail of Tears.
The Indian Removal Act was the desire of the government to use Native American lands for the selfish purposes of the cotton planters and railroad companies. Cherokees and other Indian tribes were defined as an obstacle to American development as a nation (Takaki, 2008). During the Trail of Tears, it was officially reported that no more than 400 people died, but it was evident that the deaths in the containment centers and the camps where the Cherokees were held reached more than 4000 (Learn Liberty, 2021). In the chosen master narrative, many facts and factors of the removal were ignored, including multiple petitions and individuals eager to support American Indians. The Trail of Tears justified the possibility of taking everything from the Cherokees and offering multiple opportunities for white American citizens. In the past, this choice was based on language, education, and constitutional differences; in the present, the differences between the representatives of these communities also exist.
Despite the intention to create an equal American society, the example of Indian removal proves the superiority of skin color and the prejudice of the government. Instead of protecting all citizens and respecting their past, the Trail of Tears showed how people could lose everything in a moment. That historical event shaped the present treatment of the American Indians and demonstrated why minorities did not protect themselves, even if they were legally supported.
References
Learn Liberty. (2021). The trail of tears: They knew it was wrong[Video]. Web.
Takaki, R. (2008). A different mirror: A history of multicultural America. Back Bay Books.