On the Necessity of Indian Removal

In this speech, President Andrew Jackson defends and praises the Indian Removal Act. With complete disregard for the cultural heritage associated with tribal lands, he exalts the government’s generous offer to pay for native land and relocation. He believes it is for their good, saying that perhaps under the right influence Natives will eventually “cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community.” Jackson’s speech, while tough to read in a modern context, provides valuable insight into the historical attitudes that led to “The Trail of Tears” and other acts of cultural genocide against Native Americans.