Indian Removal

Indian Removal was a policy by the U.S. government in the 1830s aimed at relocating Native American tribes living east of the Mississippi River to lands west of it. This decision was driven by the desire for white settlement and economic development in those eastern territories. The most notorious example is the Trail of Tears, during which thousands of Cherokee, along with other tribes, were forced to march long distances, resulting in suffering and high death tolls. This policy severely disrupted Native tribes’ lives, cultures, and territories, leading to lasting consequences for Indigenous communities.