Indian Removal era

Definition

The Indian Removal era (1830-1850) was a period in U.S. history when Native American tribes were forcibly relocated from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to areas west of the Mississippi River, primarily present-day Oklahoma.

Analogy

Think of it like being forced to move out of your childhood home without any say in the matter, and then having to start over in a completely unfamiliar place.

Related terms

Trail of Tears: This refers to the forced relocation route where thousands of Native Americans died due to harsh conditions such as disease, starvation, and exposure.

Andrew Jackson: He was the 7th President of the United States who signed the Indian Removal Act into law in 1830.

Indian Removal Act: This was a law passed by Congress that authorized the president to negotiate with southern Native American tribes for their removal to federal territory west of the Mississippi River.