On Indian Removal

Jackson claims, “[T]he tribes which occupied the countries now constituting the Eastern States were annihilated or have melted away to make room for the whites” (4). Using a reliable source, refute or support his assertion. Why would Jackson mitigate the circumstances that led to the displacement and death of Indigenous Americans in the eastern United States?

Examine Jackson’s juxtaposition of Indigenous Americans and white American settlers in the fourth paragraph. What does this juxtaposition accomplish? How else does Jackson use juxtaposition in the speech?

In the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson refers to Indigenous Americans as “merciless savages” who worked alongside the British to subvert American independence. Where do you see examples of this notion in Jackson’s speech?

Jackson is known by a few monikers: “Old Hickory,” “the People’s President,” and “King Andrew I.” He earned each of these nicknames for his political prowess, personal fortitude, and attitudes towards his dissenters. Discuss how the arguments he presents to justify the Indian Removal Act relate to each of these epithets.

Jackson takes for granted that Indigenous Americans are “savage” in comparison to the “civilized” white Americans. To what extent does he imply that Indigenous Americans are “naturally” inferior? To what extent does he imply that their supposed inferiority results from cultural factors?

Consider the context in which Jackson delivered this speech. How does his audience (the Senate) shape the way he delivers his message?

Jackson frequently uses rhetorical questions to make his case. Do these questions appeal to his audience’s emotions, reasoning, or both?

Jackson references Christianity several times. What role does religion play in his arguments?