19th Century Americas Affect on Native Americans Essay

19th Century Americas Affect on Native Americans - Essay Example The push was on to the west. The face of Native America would soon be changed forever.Concern over the possibility of European expansion propelled the United States Government to create a buffer to stem a possible encroachment. "Between 1816 and 1840, tribes located between the original states and the Mississippi River, including Cherokees, Chickasaws, Choctaws, Creeks, and Seminoles, signed more than 40 treaties ceding their lands to the U.S." (National Historical Trail, n.p.) The Federal Removal Act signed into law did not call for the actual removal of Indians from their homeland; it gave the authority to negotiate for exchange of their land for land in the western territories. However, pressure to obtain native land soon resulted in the forcible removal of Native Americans from the eastern United States. Probably the most well known forced move became known as the 'Trail of Tears' where thousands died on the forced marches.There was no consideration given for the vast cultural di fferences of various tribes. Uprooted from their way of life and relocated to areas home to other tribes resulted in cultural upheavals and clashes amongst various Native American tribes. Additionally, settlers began pushing westward. As the demand for more land by settlers west of the Mississippi River increased, hostility grew between the settlers and the American Indians.