Land issue also impacted the current residents!

At Jackson’s behest, Congress in 1830 passed

the Indian Removal Act = forceful removal of Indians of both North and South into the West.
AJ favored voluntary emigration === agreed with his predecessors that they were capable of
assimilation, he realized that hatred by land-hungry Americans would make it impossible.
In Alabama, Georgia, and Mississippi treaties were routinely ignored by Americans
Fed government now could simply seize land under the guise of new treaties that basically
evicted the tribes.
When Jackson’s administration was over, the US had “negotiated” almost 100 treaties.
Some Indians refused to surrender their land. For example, required Black Hawk War of 1831-32
in the north to get the Sac and Fox tribes moved across the Mississippi.
In the south the five civilized tribes were forced out and not all peacefully
Creeks, Choctaw, and Chickasaws agreed to treaty terms and were moved west.
Seminoles rejected the treaty and pulled back into the Florida marsh to wage a long and futile
war agasint the US Army … most were moved to Indian Territory in Ok… about a thousand
remained scattered in Florida … there today.
Cherokees of Georgia put up the most spirited resistance.
Had made an independent nation in Georgia with a written constitution in the late 20s.
Gold discoveries a few years later = got to go. Forget about any treaties!
Took their case to the Supreme Court = Question… Did not the Constitution declare treaties part
of the supreme law of the land? So … can our existing treaty be ignored?
Cherokee Nation v. Georgia 1831 Marshall declared the Cherokees were not a foreign nation but
a “domestic dependent nation” subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government.
BUT, their treaty did protect them from state law confiscating their land!
1832 Marshall ruled in Worcester v. Georgia that the Cherokees enjoyed territorial sanctions that
the state of Georgia could not violate and left the strong implication that the president bore the
responsibility of upholding their rights guaranteed by federal law.
Jackson called bullshit on the court with “Marshall has made his decision, now let him enforce
it.”
Tribe split and one faction signed a treaty with US in late 1835 agreeing to give land east of the
Mississippi to the US and move west.
But … majority opposed the treaty and refused to leave.
Three years later, Van Buren ordered the army to join Georgia in forcing about 18,000 westward.
Inadequate provisions combined with a horrible drought to make the migration one of the worst
events in American history … nearly 4000 died on the trail of tears.
Bureau of Indian Affairs had been established in 36 = symbol of paternalistic racialist attitude
toward the tribes.
Report issued after resettlement in OK: “Good feelings has been preserved, and we have quietly
and gently transported 18,000 friends to the west bank of the Mississippi.” Jackson’s
congratulations included “This unhappy race—the original dwellers in our land—are now placed
in a situation where we may well hope that they will share in the blessings of civilization and be
saved from degradation and destruction.” (Lyncoya 1811-1828 had died along with any
compassion for the “unhappy race” the same year as Rachel)

The 1832 election introduced the first third party = In 1826 a disgruntled Freemason named
William Morgan threatened to write a book exposing the secrets of the order. He was arrested on
bogus charges and disappeared after his release. Rumors that Masons had taken him out and
killed him.
Public rose up over poor Morgan? No … the Masonic Order was considered elitist who
monopolized wealth, power, and political offices.
The Mason’s blocked the investigation of Morgan’s disappearance reinforcing the dark image of
the group.
Mass meetings were ginned up by individuals such as newspaper man Thurlow Weed and they
quickly galvanized into a political movement = Anti-mason party.
Jackson (a Mason) became a logical target and after spreading into several states and urban
centers experiencing the market revolution held the nation’s first nominating convention and
selected a presidential candidate for 1832.
Convention??? Both parties followed their lead and Nat-Reps had a poorly attended convention
(Clay)
Dems = well attended convention and nominated Jackson by acclamation.

Jackson’s second and third terms.

Shuts down nullification
Shuts down the bank
Having succeeded in getting the BWI reopened with the British by threatening to shut down
trade with Canaday … in his second term he threatens war with France!