The Indian Removal Act

Paper Summary:

The Removal Act of May 28,1830, was an act by both houses of Congress of the U.S., which provided for an exchange of lands with the native Indian tribes residing in any of the states or territories, and for their removal west of the Mississippi River, their traditional land, to the prairies. This paper describes leading up to the Act being passed, the anti-removal faction, which hotly debated the law, and the Cherokee fight against the law, which unfortunately led to the Trail of Tears.

From the Paper:

"Like other removal opponents, Congressman Henry Storrs of New York was apprehensive towards giving the President power to deal directly with the Indians. The bill, if approved by Congress, would vest the President precisely with that power. He stated James Madison's sentiment that the Founding Fathers would not have given one branch of government the power to conduct Indian affairs without the balanced advice and consent of the two others. But this bill would precisely give the President that sole authority to move the Indians out of their land by a mere executive order."

More papers on The Indian Removal Act:

• Essay # 53521 : "The Indian Removal Act of 1830"
• Essay # 44141 : "Indian Removal Act, 1840"
• Term Paper # 4921 : "The Trail of Tears"

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