Which of the following describes why Jackson supported the Indian Removal Act?

He desired to protect Native Americans from aggressive attacks by neighboring militias.

He wanted to reduce the ability of Native Americans to influence political and legal matters.

He argued that opening Native American lands to white settlement would improve the economy.

He believed that Native Americans were unable to adapt to the culture of white society.

1 answer

Andrew Jackson supported the Indian Removal Act primarily because he believed that Native Americans were unable to adapt to the culture of white society. This perspective was rooted in the prevailing attitudes of the time, which viewed Native Americans as inferior and unable to coexist with European settlers. Jackson believed that removing Native Americans from their ancestral lands would lead to the expansion of American agriculture and settlement, thereby benefiting the economy. While he may have cited various reasons for the removal, the belief in their inability to integrate into American society was a significant factor in his support for the act.