President Jackson's Racism

Essay by KSiegleHigh School, 11th gradeA, October 2014

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The Indian Removal Act of 1830 was driven primarily out of President Jackson's racist and hateful inclinations toward the native people. Andrew Jackson's humble background and circumstances made him the "common man" president. The people felt like they could relate to him, and Jackson rose new political and economical opportunities for the average American. However, his beliefs that every man is as good as his neighbor only benefited white males. From the moment the European settlers took their footing in the New World, a clash with the Natives was inevitable. By the time Andrew Jackson had won the election of 1828 he had become a white supremacist. Jacksons racist ideals originated from the Seminole Wars in Florida. He first won the Battle of Horseshoe Bend easily, which left him believing the Indians were inferior and weak. In the First Seminole war, he led around three thousand men into battle and destroyed several Indian villages, leaving the Seminoles to die.

Jackson then ignored the rights of the Cherokees and went against the Supreme Court's decision to recognize the Cherokee National Council as a legal governing body. Jackson did everything in his power to remove the remaining tribes that were attempting to assemble into white society. When the Indians were emigrating, they were treated inhumanely and with inferiority under Jackson's supervision. After the emigration, Jackson spoke out against the natives, claiming that the move was necessary and that the Indians were incapable of living in harmony with the Americans. All of these actions were unnecessary and were driven out of the racist ideals of our president. Andrew Jackson's racist views stemmed from his experience in battle. On March 27th, 1814 Jackson defeated the Red Stick faction of the Creek Nation at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in the first Seminole war. The...