President Andrew Jackson, an ardent Nationalist, wanted an autonomous nation. He believed that whites and Indians should not live together His solution to this problem was for the Cherokee and other Indians to go west and form their own commonwealths. The state of Georgia also supported the removal because at first the Cherokee did not want to lose its sovereignty Once the Cherokee did begin to assimilate, Georgia was still not ready to accept the Cherokee, due mostly to its white citizens finding the Cherokee were inferior and a desire to own more land. Eventually even some members of the Cherokee tribe began to advocate for removal, seeing it as inevitable.
There were many people who opposed the removal of the Cherokee. Among travelers that had interacted with the Cherokee, it was regarded that the tribe was kind and helpful. Many white people had comfortably assimilated into the Cherokee nation and recognized the Cherokees attempt at assimilating to European culture. After a member of the tribe, Elias Boudinot, began writing articles concerning the plight of the Indian and exposing the hypocrisy of the United States government, more people became aware of the situation and began to speak against the removal.
The most vocal and influential supporter of the rights of Indians during this time was Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen. He believed that Indians were entitled to the same rights as everyone else and should not be forced to do anything, particularly move from a land they had inhabited for centuries. The senator asked his fellow lawmakers to put themselves in the Indians place, remember what the Revolutionary War was fought for and reminded Congress that there did already exist treaties stating that Indian Territories were sovereign nations. Also, the Supreme Court showed its support towards the Cherokee by ruling in favor of a preacher who refused to recognize Georgia law within Indian Territory. This support was not effective for the governor of Georgia ignored the ruling and President Jackson did not attempt to uphold it.
There were many people who opposed the removal of the Cherokee. Among travelers that had interacted with the Cherokee, it was regarded that the tribe was kind and helpful. Many white people had comfortably assimilated into the Cherokee nation and recognized the Cherokees attempt at assimilating to European culture. After a member of the tribe, Elias Boudinot, began writing articles concerning the plight of the Indian and exposing the hypocrisy of the United States government, more people became aware of the situation and began to speak against the removal.
The most vocal and influential supporter of the rights of Indians during this time was Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen. He believed that Indians were entitled to the same rights as everyone else and should not be forced to do anything, particularly move from a land they had inhabited for centuries. The senator asked his fellow lawmakers to put themselves in the Indians place, remember what the Revolutionary War was fought for and reminded Congress that there did already exist treaties stating that Indian Territories were sovereign nations. Also, the Supreme Court showed its support towards the Cherokee by ruling in favor of a preacher who refused to recognize Georgia law within Indian Territory. This support was not effective for the governor of Georgia ignored the ruling and President Jackson did not attempt to uphold it.
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