The Indian Removal Act: The Forced Relocation of a Nation

Nick Lowenthal and Henry Knopes Senior Division Group Website

Nick Lowenthal Dr. Romeyn hematic !S History "#$#%& NHD Process Paper Draft While considerin' the various topics related to the theme( )Ri'hts and Responsibilities)( one possible sub*ect stood out to us. We had both studied +merican history topics such as the ,ivil War( the +merican Revolution( and the ,ivil Ri'hts movement. However( we knew little about the history o- Native +mericans. We knew that the .ndian Removal +ct was responsible -or the rail o- ears( one o- +merica/s 'reat tra'edies. Nick has some ,herokee back'round( and was instantly intri'ued. We a'reed that the rail o- ears was a relatively unheralded and little discussed issue involvin' key ri'hts. We a'reed that a website would be the best way to share the e0tensive in-ormation on the topic. + website could be easily navi'able and have di--erent pa'es that would take the viewer step by step throu'h the history o- the .ndian Removal +ct. We be'an our research by investi'atin' secondary sources that provided basic history and in-ormation on the .ndian Removal +ct. Some othe databases we used were Gale and !S History in ,onte0t. +s we

learned the -acts( we wanted to delve deeper into the history o- the time period and +ndrew 1ackson. We both read books on the topic that provided e0tensive and valuable in-ormation( much o- which we could/ve never -ound by ourselves. +-ter we that we started lookin' -or primary sources and accounts o- the actions involvin' .ndian Removal -rom the 1acksonian 2ra. We were able to -ind -ascinatin' sources on Goo'le 3ooks( includin' a lon' article written by +merican 4onthly 4a'a5ine in %6&7 that included opinions on the +ct. We were also able to -ind transcripts -rom Supreme ,ourt trials and letters between many prominent -i'ures. he combinations o- all these types o- sources made -or an interestin' mi0 o- perspectives and in-ormation. .ndian Removal is an early e0ample o- the abuse o- the ri'hts o+merican people( in this case the +merican Natives. .t also e0poses the problems that can arise i- the 'overnment -ails to -ollow throu'h with the responsibility they have to protect those ri'hts. his is a topic that is somewhat ne'lected in +merican history but one that is also very si'ni-icant.