Jonathan Stepka
Mr. Evens
Government 9—Period 2
November 2, 2011
Fictional History on the Indian Removal Act
In the 1830’s the United States government’s policy toward the Native Americans was called the Indian Removal Act. This policy was made to rationalize the removal of the five major Indian groups off their land. These tribes were seen as savages that stood in the United States government’s progress of settling western lands. Propaganda like this was used to rationalize this policy. Although the Indians signed this policy the government used trickery and bribery to confuse the Native Americans into signing the act. The end result of this policy was the trail of tears, this was the forced march of thousands of Native Americans and many of them died along the way to Oklahoma. This policy toward Native Americans was not inevitable there were other options and the Native Americans tried them but were blown off by the U.S. government. Because of this, I would like to share with you a fictional version of what could have happened instead of this policy.
Setting: U.S. congressional building, William Armstrong is about to speak on the topic of the Indian Removal act. He will also be presenting alternative ideas on how to peacefully coexist with the American Indians. William Armstrong has been chosen to speak on behalf of the native Americans because they are not welcome in the building.
William Armstrong please come and make your statements on the issue on the Indian Removal act and other possible solutions. “Well sir I find that the Indian Removal act is doing great injustice to the Indians” (speaker of the house) “what brings such a thought to your mind.” “well sir would you very much like it if… let’s say an Irishman came to your house and said that you had to leave the land that you have tilled and settled and raised your family on then he said you had to leave because you were in the way of his progress toward the betterment of his life, answer honestly” “ Mr. Armstrong I would not very much like that, I do believe that this “Irishman” would be in the wrong” “Now sir what if you protested this and then the Irishman came back with legal document and said you had to leave… keep in mind that you are not a citizen of the united states of America so you have no right to protest this in a court of law.” “Mr. Armstrong I would not like that one bit” “Sir this is why I am proposing that the American Indians gain citizenship to the united states of America.” “But the Indians are a savage people that roam all about and eat raw buffalo” “Sir see that is where you are wrong this is a common misconception in the mind of the American people. They don’t roam and eat raw buffalo; they are a peaceful and settled people. Mr. Ashwin, also known as Strong horse to his people, of the Cherokee Indians and his family has lived settled on a farm for more than 200 years. My plan for citizenship of all native American Indians, if they choose to be a citizen, is in the year 1830 a census will be taken, am I correct” “I believe you are Mr. Armstrong” “ In the census of 1830 there will be an option for the application for citizenship. Now you all must be thinking that this is crazy how we are going to track down people that roam the plains, well they don’t roam the plains most of them in this day and age have settled near a town. So I think that it this “impossible task” is not so impossible anymore. The Native Americans can simply come in and apply for citizen ship at the local governmental branch. This would in my opinion stop all quarrels between the government and the Indians because they now have constitutional right to protect themselves from anymore injustice.” “Mr. Armstrong I believe that this idea is the better of the two and now all we need is a piece of legislation to back these ideas.” “Sir this right here explains my ideas in full detail so if you would like to read this document with your colleagues and vote upon it that would please me very much.” And so it was done the “Native American citizenship bill” was passed and the Native Americans were given the choice of citizenship.
If this bill was actually passed there would be not trail of tears or wars between the Indians and the United States government. The great injustices done to the American Indians would have been completely avoided by this bill. The reason why is because the Indians would have been able to stand for themselves in a court of law. The relations between the government and the Indians would be on a whole new level because the government would have to respect the rights of a citizen instead of just walking all over them.