Benny Garcia Val Sederholm April 1, 2013 Andrew Jackson was a war hero and throughout his life

he would fight against the Indians. Andrew Jackson viewed the Indians like people who could not live by themselves and needed to be helped to survive. Andrew Jackson removed the Indians because he thought that they would be able to live better away from the whites. Martin Van Buren also helped with removing the Indians by enforcing the Indian Removal Act. The Indians were moved west so that the land they were on could be used for the white settlers. In a letter to Martin Van Buren, Ralph Waldo Emerson writes on the subject of the Indian Removal Act and how he views it. Ralph Emerson protests the Indian Removal Act. Ralph Emerson does view Van Buren as a friend as every citizen is your friend and closes the letter with great respect. Emerson is trying to appeal to Van Buren as a friend that questions his morals. Emerson views the Indians as progressed people that have merged into the new American life. We have seen some of them in our schools and colleges, Emerson says this to show that the Indians are not savages but also contribute to society. Emerson says that the act being passed is not the view of the nation and that the majority of that nation views the removal as a sham treaty. The Cherokee nation protested the treaty but no one in the government would listen to them. Emerson asks in the name of God if the act is actually the truth, which challenges Van Burens morals. Emerson says that if Van Buren goes through with the removal then he will bring down that renowned chair in which you sit into infamy which means that Van Buren will get a negative reputation from the American people. Emerson also questions if the government is

actually good or bad, Will the American government steal? Will it lie? Will it kill? Emerson thinks that the Indian Removal Act is a mistake and if Van Buren enforces it then he will lose credibility. Emerson views the Indians as average good humans and tries to show Van Buren that he will be ruining the lives of a lot of innocent people. Andrew Jackson did not like the Indians and thought that moving them away form white settlers would be more beneficial then having them try to integrate into society. In Jacksons first inaugural speech he gives his views on how America should be run and some of these views affect the Indians. Jackson believed that separate states should be able to have their own rights. Jackson did not give the Indians the same rights as the white settlers even though their territory was on state grounds. Jackson says that he will have a just and liberal policy towards the Indians, but the Indian Removal Act is not a just policy. Jackson does reveal that he will get rid of the spoil system in his speech. Jackson mentions that he will strengthen the army because he believes a strong army will help protect our country, a patriotic militia will cover it with an impenetrable aegis. In Jacksons first inaugural speech he does say that he will treat the Indians fair, but the Indian Removal Act is far from fair. Jackson did not give his real opinion on the Indians and used his words to hide his opinion. Elias Boudinot was a Cherokee Indian. To Boudinot moving to the west would be the best option because he thought that if they stayed in the east there would be certain death. To Boudinot the Indian removal was not the question

because the Indians would be able to survive in the west. Boudinot says that the Indians should leave because they will end up being violently forced to leave. Boudinot said that the Indians should leave with the advantage of the treaty, which meant that they leave peacefully and safely, rather then be forced to leave degraded and impoverished. Elias Boudinot did not oppose the removal and thought it would be beneficial to the Indians, which was a very abstract view. The Indian Removal Act was signed by Andrew Jackson and enforced by Martin Van Buren. In a story told by John Burnett he describes the atrocity of the Trail of Tears. Burnett describes seeing death everywhere since the Indians were moved during a harsh winter and most did not have sufficient supplies. Burnett described the Indians as moral prostitutes because he did not seem them as savages but as kind people who would sing him songs in return for his companionship. Burnetts story is a good primary source which documented the process of the move of the Indians. The best argument in respect to the Indian Removal is Ralph Waldo Emersons view that protested the removal. Emerson saw the Indians as equals thought that they should have the same rights as any other citizen. Emersons view is the most ethical compared to the other two. Boudinots argument did have good intentions but his view of the removal was not the reality of the removal. Boudinot thought that the Indians would be able to leave peacefully but they actually left in the winter and not enough supplies to survive, which is why it is given the name the Trail of Tears. Logically and morally Andrew Jacksons argument was not a good one. Jackson did not view the Indians just, like he said he would, and wanted them

removed so that they could use their land. Emersons view is the most logical and ethical, if Jackson would have listened to Emerson a lot of innocent people would have not lost their lives and America would not a stain on its past.