Indian Removal Act

The Indian Removal Act, enacted in 1830 under President Andrew Jackson, authorized the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated "Indian Territory" west of the Mississippi River. The goal was to make land available for American settlers, especially for agriculture. This policy led to the Trail of Tears, a devastating journey for many tribes marked by suffering and high mortality rates. The act reflects a period of expansionism and conflict between the U.S. government and Native American nations over land rights and sovereignty.