Which statement best explains why Andrew Jackson enforced the Indian
Removal Act despite opposition from the Supreme Court?
A. Jackson did not believe that the Supreme Court had the power to
make decisions about Indigenous peoples.
B. Jackson did not believe that Indigenous peoples engaged in
farming and other practices that required land.
C. Jackson believed relocating Indigenous peoples would prevent
them from becoming enslaved.
D. Jackson believed that Indigenous peoples should be relocated so
that white settlers could have desirable land.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is D. Jackson believed that Indigenous peoples should be relocated so that white settlers could have desirable land.
Explanation:
Andrew Jackson’s enforcement of the Indian Removal Act, despite opposition from the Supreme Court, can be traced to his belief in the expansion of white settlements and the economic opportunities that accompanied this growth. Jackson’s primary motivation was to clear the land for white settlers, particularly in the southern states, where valuable agricultural land was in high demand. The removal of Indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands opened up these regions for farming, especially cotton, which became a key economic driver in the United States during this period.
Jackson’s policy of removal was grounded in a racial and economic ideology that prioritized the interests of white Americans over those of Native Americans. He argued that relocating Indigenous tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River (the “Indian Territory,” now Oklahoma) would protect them from the encroachment of white settlers and ensure their survival in an area where they could live undisturbed. However, this view was largely dismissive of Native American sovereignty and culture.
The most significant opposition came from the Supreme Court, especially in the case of Worcester v. Georgia (1832), where Chief Justice John Marshall ruled that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign entity and that the state of Georgia had no authority to impose laws on them. Despite this ruling, Jackson is famously said to have responded, “John Marshall has made his decision; now let him enforce it.” This reflected his disregard for the judicial branch’s authority and his determination to pursue his policy of removal, believing it would benefit the nation’s growth.
In sum, Jackson’s enforcement of the Indian Removal Act was largely driven by a desire to clear land for white settlers, which directly contradicted the Supreme Court’s decision in favor of Native American rights.