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Opposition to the Indian Removal Act

The speech argues against the Indian Removal Act, emphasizing the need to respect Native Americans and their rights to their ancestral lands. It highlights the potential for coexistence and mutual learning between Native Americans and settlers, citing historical examples of peaceful relations. The speaker warns that expelling Native Americans would lead to enmity and dishonor for the nation.

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506 views2 pages

Opposition to the Indian Removal Act

The speech argues against the Indian Removal Act, emphasizing the need to respect Native Americans and their rights to their ancestral lands. It highlights the potential for coexistence and mutual learning between Native Americans and settlers, citing historical examples of peaceful relations. The speaker warns that expelling Native Americans would lead to enmity and dishonor for the nation.

Uploaded by

jaime.ruizgarcia.2009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Speech to Congress for the Indian Removal Act

We, the people of the United States, should and must respect the Native people
who occupied these lands long before we knew about them. We just cannot
force them to leave their homes and start a new journey to the unknown. This is
not only my opinion, there are numerous Americans who are also against the
Indian Removal Act. For instance, listen to the women from Steubenville, Ohio:
“In despite of the undoubted national right which the Indians have to the land of
their forefathers, and in the face of solemn treaties, pledging the faith of the
nation for their secure possession of those lands, it is intended, we are told, to
force them from their native soil, to compel them to seek new homes in a
distant and dreary wilderness.” (Teach US History). Expelling the Natives will
only make us more enemies, as well as giving the American nation a lasting
dishonor.

Thus, instead of expelling the Native Americans, we can coexist with them and
learn from their culture, habits, traditions, etc., while they do the same from us.
By doing this we can improve America as we know it, fostering a virtuous cycle
of mutual learning. Coexisting with native Americans is not an impossible task,
in fact it has already been done. Take for example Spain, which possessed the
territories of Florida, had almost no conflict with the Natives of those lands, the
Seminoles. It was when the United States acquired Florida when the conflicts
between the Natives and the Americans arose. So we can try to replicate a
system like the Spanish one, where the Natives are respected and live as one
citizen more.
Works Cited

·Cosmos: U.S. History, Module 2, 2.03) Expansion to the West

·Teach US History: “Petition by Ladies in Steubenville, OH, against Indian Removal.” Petition by
Ladies in Steubenville, OH, against Indian Removal | Teach US History,
[Link]/indian-removal/resources/petition-ladies-steubenville-oh-against-
indian-removal. Accessed 19 Oct. 2024.

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