U.S./Native American Relations

    In 1830, Andrew Jackson invited the Cherokees, Choctaws, Chickasaws, and Creeks to send representatives to Tennessee to meet with President and discuss land rights.  Only the Chickasaws sent their chiefs and tribal leaders to meet with the President.  At the meeting Jackson told them "Your great father... asks if you are prepared and ready to submit to the laws of Mississippi, and make a surrender of your ancient laws... you must submit-there is is no alternative... Old men! Lead your children to a land of promise and of peace before the Great Spirit shall call you to die. Young chiefs! Preserve your people and nation."

 

     Like many of his time, Jackson believed that the native tribes that were living in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina would be better off if they started a new life west of the Mississippi. 

    Jackson would have government officials make deals with different chiefs of certain tribes.  This created competition between different groups to try and get the best deal between themselves and the American government.  For example, the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek was signed in 1830.  This arrangement guaranteed the Choctaw 5 million acres of land west of Arkansas in exchange for 5 million acres of land in Mississippi.

    This treaty is a part of the controversial treatment of Native American tribes by both European settlers and the American government.  As our nation grew and expanded, aboriginal (native) groups were relocated from their original homes to lands that the Americans did not want.  

   Think of it this way.  If you have to share Starbursts or pizza with your younger siblings, you are not going to give them anything that you would want.  No, the youngest get the worst flavor (lemon) or the smallest slice or the one that you dropped.  The American people are going to take the best land for themselves in their quest to expand the country.

   Tonight for H.W. you looked at the timeline of the history of Native American and United States governments' complex relationship.  You needed to decide if the event is an example of Force, Respect, or Assimilation.  Those tend to be the three main policies that our country has had.  

You also need to answer these two questions:

1. Choose an event from the timeline.  Either explain the event or defend the actions the U.S. took.

2. Have you noticed any patterns in the treatment of the tribes?  Do some decades have similar policies then others?  What was going on during those decades?

Enjoy the day.  Sadly, 6 more weeks of winter