How would you characterize the position of each historical actor? How specifically did each actor support his or her position? Ultimately, why was there an Indian Removal crisis?

Andrew Jackson Pushes for the Removal of the Choctaws (1830-1831)

The ascent of Andrew Jackson as president signaled a new and more confrontational approach with the nation’s Native American population. Whereas previous presidents had focused on diplomacy and assimilation, Jackson and his allies favored forced relocation. The first and second of the three letters below were written by Jackson to John Pitchlynn, a translator and intermediary between whites and Choctaws. Alabamian John Coffee, a close advisor who had served with the president in the War of 1812, was the recipient of the third letter.

Washington Apl 6th. 1830

Friend & Brother—

Such are the various and important dutes which engross my time and attention, that it is not in my power to reply to your letter fully as I otherwise would desire to do. Already I have told you my sentiments as regards your removal beyond the Mississippi. In that, I have spoken to you candidly as a friend, one—who if he could, would not deceve you. When was it, that I attempted to take advantage of my Indian friends. Brother—In all the intercourse had with them, in peace and amidst the ravages of war, my constant object has been, to speak to them as friends and brothers. I never have deceived them, and never shall. Let me say to you then—with that candour which always has been practiced, that it is vain and idle for you to expect to live happily where you are. Have you not tried it long enough and do you not perceive that your nation is daily sinking, growing fewer in numbers and becoming less powerful, Look to all the tribes which have dwelt in our country surrounded by their white brethren, and you will perceive that their character and consequence as a people, have wholly disappeared. From this fate I desire to save you—and believe it is only to be effect by a consent on your own part, to remove west of the Mississippi There you can be happy—there you will have a home, and you and your children for ever, free from the interposition, or interruption which now assails you—and which must continue to assail you, whilst you reside among your white brothers. Go then to the west, where happiness and peace await you. There the state laws cannot molest or disturb you. The lands granted will be yours and will belong to your children, when you are no more, fertile & rich, they will yield an ample sustenance. To those who shall chose to indulge in agriculture, while such of your people as shall insist on the case, will find a region opening to and stretching back on the mountains, where game is abundant and fine If under all circumstances the choctaws sensible of their true interest, shall be disposed to remove and leave their trouble behind them. Terms the most liberal will be granted. The people of the united states want no advantage of their red brothers. they will meet in council & act with them on the most liberal and enlarged terms. Their great purpose is to make them a happy people, and indulge a hope that they may be perpetuated as a great & lasting people. If then your people shall consent to go, I shall not hesitate, to send a confidential messenger to make conditions with you, or if prefered to receive a delegation here, to arrange and settle all differences. If they be agreed to by the nation, and a delegation be sent, clothed with full powers to make a treaty on these points, all their expences in coming & returning will be paid. Make all this known to your nation[.] Your friend—

Andrew Jackson

Hermitage August 5th. 1830—

Dr Sir

your letter of the 24th. of july has just been received. I would have been happy to have seen you at Nashville and received your views as it regards the permanent settlement of the choctaws west of the Mississippi. I am aware of your friendship for them & the great anxiety you have for their future welfare; but great as I know it, it cannot be more so than mine. At the request of their confidential agent, Major Haley, who communicated to me the great desire the choctaw chiefs had to see me, & enter into arrangements to surrender their possessions, & remove across the Missippi to the country provided for them, that they had great confidence that I would do them liberal Justice, I am now here to meet their chiefs, agreably to the promise made to Major Haley. The Secretary of War & myself meet them in the neighbourhood of Franklin. [As yet we have] heard nothing from them of a positive character. Whether they chiefs are comming to meet us or not our official business urges a return to the city of Washington & we cannot stay much longer here to meet them. We therefore request that you will make known to them that we are now awaiting there arrival agreably to my promise to their confidential agent Major Haley I beg of you to say to them, that their interest happiness peace & prosperity depends upon their removal beyond the jurisdiction of the laws of the State of Mississippi. These things have been explained to them fully and I forebear to repeat ; but request that you make known to them that Congress to enable them to remove & comfortably to arrange themselves as their new homes has made liberal appropriations. It was a measure I had much at heart & sought to effect because I was satisfied that the Indians could not possibly live under the laws of the States. If now they shall refuse to accept the liberal terms offered, they only must be liable for whatever evils & difficulties may arise. I feel conscious of having done my duty to my red children and if any failure of my good intention arises, it will be attributable to their want of duty to themselves, not to me.

I have directed the Secretary of war to write [you fully and] make it known to my red children—and tell them to listen well to it—it comes from a friend and the last time I shall address them on the subject should the chiefs fail to meet us now. I am your friend.

A.J.

Washington October 23rd. 1831—

My Dr. Genl,

By the administrator of Lt Dumas was your letter forwarded to me from Baltimore….Two days since, I had sent on a joint commission to Genl J. H. Eaton and yourself, to negotiate with the choctaws & chikisaws, for a country within the choctaw boundery west of the Mississippi river, sufficient for the chickisaws to settle in. It is important, as the choctaws are now, in part, removing that this should be attended to speedily, that the chikisaws may go with them

you will find you are left unrestricted as to the terms on which this is to be obtained, your discretion and the object to be obtained, you are to be governed by, resting confidently that you will get it on as low terms as you can, and stipulating, that the amount to be paid, shall be, by annuities, and that at a distant period, so that the amount can be raised out of the sales of the chikisaw lands; bearing in mind, that I keep in view steadily, the full discharge of the public debt on the 3rd of March 1833, and I wish no debt created that will interfere with the revenue that is to meet that object, therefore it is, that I wish you & Genl Eaton to stipulate the consideration to be paid the choctaws, to be paid by annuities commences after that date, or to be secured to be paid out of the sales of the chikisaw lands. These lands if added to your land District, can be survayed & brought into markett in all the next year, but if annexed to the Missippi District, may not be brought into markett for several years, unless we can get a survayor Genl with more energy & capacity than the present. We have furnished him with funds to survay the Choctaw lands some time ago, and we have not heard as yet of his having stretched a chain upon it—he is one of [Senator John] Poindex[ter’s] men, & has refused to employ any deputies, as it is said, that does not live in the State, therefore it appears, that the public business must be converted into a political, for private views. I will in due time attend to this.

With my sincere prays for the health & prosperity of you and your family, your friend

Andrew Jackson

P.S. I have sent to Genl Eaton a fair copy of instructions, substantially the same as above A. J.

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