Native Americans Forced to Move West
Native Americans were systematically forced to move across the Mississippi River as the result of systematic displacements that started in 1820s. At first, the Indian Removal Act of 1830 served as a way of peacefully accommodating the expanding population of European Americans while allowing the Choctaws and Chickasaws to maintain autonomy in the east. However, the military intervention of the US government soon followed, resulting in compulsory displacement of Native Americans to the western territories. This practice, aimed at providing land for European settlers, peaked when the Indian Appropriations Act of 1851 mandated the removal of all tribes living east of the Mississippi.
The passing of this act caused a national outcry as it was a clear violation of Indian rights promised in the Treaties of 1817 and 1825. Many activists, including the “Five Civilized Tribes” alliance of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek and Seminole, criticized the government and attempted to find a peaceful resolution to the matter. The Supreme Court rejected their appeal, ruling in favor of the Indian Appropriations Act. This decision resulted in Indian Removal becoming an inevitable reality.
This forced displacement of Native Americans caused an immense human cost. The government could not provide suitable land in the West, and the natives had to move through hostile regions while facing inadequate food and shelter. Reports of hunger, disease and exhaustion were common. To make matters worse, the tribes had to suffer the emotional pain of leaving their homes, as well as the destruction of cultural and spiritual places.
In addition to all this, the Natives were stripped of their social, economic and political rights. The U.S. Government imposed a power structure over them, with the white settlers acting as administrators, while making Indians pay taxes and enforce the laws. The Indians were denied the ability to exercise their cultural practices and speak their languages, making their lives difficult and leading to a complete erasure of their cultural identity.
The White settlers did not only take the Indians’ homes and land, but also their dignity and autonomy. This final chapter of Indian Removal constitutes a major event in American history that greatly impacted Native Americans, who were robbed of their ancestral land, culture and identity.
Impact of the Removal
The removal of Native Americans from the east of the Mississippi had a devastating effect on the tribes, leading to great loss of life, displacement and assimilation. The death toll has been estimated to be around 20,000 in the five tribes alone, and thousands more from other tribes. This is without taking into account the economic and social costs of the displacement.
Widespread poverty and starvation affected the tribes for years, and the psychological impact of being forced off their land and assimilated in to a foreign culture cannot be understated. Many of Indian customs, beliefs and traditions were completely wiped out in a single generation, leaving many with a deep sense of loss and helplessness.
The government’s attitude to removal in the 19th century – while having improved in certain respects since then – still casts a dark shadow over Native American communities. The legacy of the removal still affects them today with the trauma, social dysfunction, poverty and cultural erasure that the tribes face.
The negative effects of this removal were also felt by the land itself. The natural environment has been greatly altered as a consequence of the introduction of non-native flora and fauna by the settlers, leading to the displacement of native species and a decrease in biodiversity.
The development of the transportation and communication infrastructure during the industrial revolution also wiped out native land, leading to further displacement of the natives and the destruction of many ancient sites.
Final Demise of Traditional Lifestyle
The removal of Native Americans from their ancestral homelands brought about the final demise of the traditional lifestyle of tribal nations. The tribes were forced to adapt to the modern agricultural, urban and industrial lifestyles of their new neighbors, which brought about significant economic and social displacement.
The traditional spiritual and cultural beliefs of the tribes were destroyed and replaced by Christianity, leading to the loss of communal values and customs that had been the backbone of Indian societies for centuries. This forced transformation of the tribes to fit into the colonial framework of their new settlements led to the further marginalization of their culture and identity.
Furthermore, the removal not only altered the physical landscape of the tribes, but also their psychological landscape. As the Indians were cut off from their ancestral homelands and customs, they faced great turmoil and displacement in their new communities which often brought with it feelings of rootlessness, alienation and despair.
All this combined to greatly weaken the tribes, making them vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination. They were completely disenfranchised from their own lands and faced exclusion from many aspects of life in the new United States, such as education and healthcare.
Effects of the Removal on Today’s Society
The removal of Native Americans from the east of the Mississippi River has profoundly affected today’s society. Many Native Americans today face social and economic marginalization, and their communities continue to suffer from the psychological and physical trauma of the displacement. The tribes are still trying desperately to cling on to their traditional cultures and customs, while struggling to find their place in modern American society.
The lack of access to financial resources, education, and employment opportunities has made it difficult for the tribes to catch up with the rest of society. This in turn has led to worsening conditions in the social, economic, and health of these communities, with many individuals stuck in a vicious cycle of marginalization and poverty.
In addition to this, the ecological effects of the removal are still felt today. The destruction of native land and the displacement of native species has led to widespread decline of the Native American ecology. This includes a decrease in biodiversity, a loss of traditional hunting grounds, and increased pollution in the affected areas.
The removal of Native Americans from their ancestral homes has also led to a greater emphasis on the European colonial history of the United States. The history of the ethnic cleansing of Native Americans is largely ignored and remains absent from school curriculums.
Commemoration and Recognition
Despite the loss, many Native American tribes have managed to preserve their cultural heritage, although in a weakened form. There have been several initiatives for the recognition and commemoration of the native victims of the Indian Removal, such as the Native American Commemorative Act passed in 2013.
This act recognizes the importance of preserving the rights of native people and providing justice to those who were forced to leave their homes. It also allows for the commemoration of sites, places and events that have been affected by the Indian Removal, emphasizing the importance of understanding this crucial piece of American history.
The passing of this law also serves as a reminder that the injustices of Indian Removal still affect native communities today and highlights the importance of recognizing their plight. This can be done through public protests, donations, education and activism to create awareness and bring justice to an otherwise ignored chapter of American history.
Reparations
The reparations promised by the U.S. government to the Native Americans were largely neglected in the 19th century. Unfortunately, this has not changed in the 21st century and the tribes continue to suffer from poverty, lack of resources and marginalization due to the failure of the U.S. government to fulfill its promises.
The unrelenting economic struggles of Native American tribes make it difficult for them to access education, healthcare and housing services. Many tribes also lack access to clean drinking water, and those who do, have to contend with the water being heavily polluted.
In light of this, the government has taken some steps to address the issue, such as the Indian Land and Reparations Settlement Act of 2006, which allows for greater access to education, healthcare, clean water and other resources. Unfortunately, this act has been criticized for not being comprehensive enough to address the long-term economic and social problems of Native American communities.
It is clear that the legacy of Indian Removal continues to haunt the Native American communities, and that more needs to be done to address their suffering. Without effective reparations, it is unlikely that the native people will ever be able to take their place in American society.
Conclusion
The removal of native people from their ancestral homelands continues to have a profound effect on native communities today. The displacement of Native Americans caused immense physical, emotional and psychological damage and has left a lasting legacy that still haunts the tribes today. Furthermore, the original promises of reparation have not been fulfilled and the tribes continue to suffer from poverty, marginalization and a lack of access to resources.
It is thus essential that the U.S. government recognize the plight of Native Americans and ensure that effective reparations and social justice are provided to these communities. This can be done through public awareness campaigns, donations and activism, as well as through legal and legislative measures that provide tangible support to the tribes. Only then can the legacy of Indian Removal be truly addressed and the wrongs of the past be rectified.
