Did Andrew Jackson's Removal Act Benefit the Indians?

Robert V. Remini shows that Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act benefits the Native Americans. Andrew Jackson made notice of the issue with the Indians in his inaugural speech on March 4, 1829. He declared that he wanted to give humane and considerable attention to the Indian’s rights and wants in respect to the government and people. Jackson knew that meant to get rid of all remaining tribes beyond the Mississippi River. He (Jackson) believed that the Indians would be better off in the west; without the influence from the white man or local authority. Jackson hired two Tennessee generals to go visit the Creeks and Cherokees to see if the Indians would leave voluntarily. In that, those who did not leave would be protected by the federalgovernment. But he implies that if they refuse to move, their race would most likely be destroyed.

Jackson became very concerned about the Native Americans. He was well liked by many chiefs due to his worrying for their welfare. He even took an orphaned Indian and raised him. Jackson was sure that as soon as the Indians adopted the white man’s’ habits, they would become complete citizens. But Jackson felt that since the white man wanted Indian territory and the two races could not cooperate, it would be best for the existence of Indians if they were removed.

Jackson was concerned about national security and he was a racist (even though he had no clue what that word meant,) but he did not want to kill the Indians. He wanted to relocate them so that they could be safe from the white men who wanted them dead for their land. So the two men (Carroll and Coffee) that Jackson had hired to talk to the chiefs of both tribes did not have the skill to do so. The chiefs did not want to move their tribes, nor did they know the land they would be moving to. They would have to leave the land that their fathers were buried in. Both the Creek and Cherokee chiefs denied commissioners request to emigrate, and told