Trail of Tears | Native Americans

^{Unbekannter Zeichner: An Indian village on the move | Zeichnung von 1905 | Vollständiges Bild und Bildnachweis (Public Domain, Wikimedia): Bild anklicken}

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Vokabelliste

Long before the arrival of the European settlers, a wave of migration coming from Asia led to the first population of North America. In the course of time, a vast variety of cultures developed on the continent. Today, they are often referred to as Native Americans or indigenous people; but for a long time, they were called Indians by the Europeans. Most of them were organized in clans and bands, which were social units of varying size with their own economies, traditions and political leaders. Most Native Americans considered themselves to be part of a people or nation; however, the settlers mostly described their larger social groups as ‚tribes‘. Sometimes, several tribes would form alliances or confederacies to achieve common goals; some Native Americans also established large urban settlements. Most of their societies were highly complex, for example, the Cherokee had developed a class-society, a government including several distinct institutions and offices, and a system of slavery.

After the arrival of the Europeans, the societies of the Old and the New World stood in close contact with each other. The relationship between the new settlers and the Native Americans often involved trading, arrangements and alliances, but sometimes also conflicts and violence. Over time, the Europeans had pushed back many of the indigenous people from the Atlantic coast. Within the inland areas, however, some had been able to hold their territories until the 19th century.

On May 26th 1830, the U.S. Congress passed the Indian Removal Act. Its aim was to resettle most of the remaining indigenous population from their current territories in the southeast of North America to the continent’s centre. Their new land, the Indian Territory, was far away from the large U.S. settlements.

Karte: Trail of Tears: Public Domain, via Wikimedia

Aufgaben

1 | The map above was created to illustrate the Trail of Tears (this is how the relocation of the Native American tribes is often called today). Read the information on the different tribes and solve the quiz below.

2 | Read the extract of President Andrew Jackson’s Speech to Congress on Indian Removal. It was held on December 6th 1830, more than half a year after the Indian Removal Act was passed.

Quelle | Andrew Jackson's Speech to Congress on Indian Removal | Quellennachweis: President Jackson's Message to Congress "On Indian Removal", December 6, 1830; Records of the United States Senate, 1789‐1990; Record Group 46; Records of the United States Senate, 1789‐1990; National Archives and Records Administration. (Ed. National Park Service)

The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves. The pecuniary¹ advantages which it promises to the Government are the least of its recommendations². It puts an end to all possible danger of collision between the authorities³ of the General and State Governments on account of⁴ the Indians. It will place a dense⁵ and civilized population in large tracts of country now occupied by a few savage⁶ hunters. By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably⁷ strengthen the southwestern frontier and render⁸ the adjacent⁹ States strong enough to repel¹⁰ future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy¹¹, and enable those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power. It will separate the Indians from immediate¹² contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue¹³ happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard¹⁴ the progress of decay¹⁵, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually¹⁶, under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels¹⁷, to cast off¹⁸ their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community. What good man would prefer a country covered with forests and ranged¹⁹ by a few thousand savages to our extensive Republic, studded²⁰ with cities, towns, and prosperous farms embellished²¹ with all the improvements which art can devise²² or industry execute, occupied by more than 12,000,000 happy people, and filled with all the blessings²³ of liberty, civilization and religion?

a) In his speech, Jackson argues that not only the white settlers, but also the Native Americans will profit from the removal. List the benefits Jackson names for both groups.

b) How does Jackson imagine life and society in the new Indian Territory?

c) Imagine you were a Native American living in 1830, trying to fight against the Indian Removal Act. You are given the opportunity to give a one-minute long comment in respond to Andrew Jackson’s speech. Write the script of this comment.

d) Jackson speaks of the “removal” of the Indigenous population from their current territories. Today, the relocations of the 1830s are often called “Trail of Tears”. Which term do you find more appropriate? Give reasons for your choice.

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