Question

List two motivations or ideas that led to the enactment of the Indian Removal Act of 1830. Of these two, in your opinion, which do you think was most important in the Indian Removal Act becoming law? Be sure to answer in at least 5-7 sentences.

Answer 1

Two primary motivations for the enactment of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 were the desire for land and economic opportunity, as well as the prevailing attitude of racial superiority toward Native Americans. Expanding white settlements in the Southeast brought increasing pressure on the federal government to remove Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands, particularly in states like Georgia, where gold had been discovered on Cherokee land. The economic potential of these territories created a strong incentive for the U.S. government to prioritize white settlers' interests over Indigenous rights.

In my opinion, the desire for land and economic gain was the most crucial motivation behind the Indian Removal Act becoming law. The United States was in a period of rapid growth and westward expansion, and the lure of fertile lands and resources for agriculture and mining proved irresistible to many Americans. This economic imperative overshadowed ethical considerations regarding the displacement of Native peoples. Moreover, the government’s willingness to overlook Indigenous rights and treaties in favor of settler interests highlights how deeply entrenched the idea of Manifest Destiny was in American society at the time. The combination of economic motivation and racial attitudes ultimately laid the groundwork for policies that facilitated the forced removal and suffering of Native Americans.