Indian Removal Act passed by Congress

Background. President Andrew Jackson sought to renew policies for the removal of American Indians from their lands. In his 1829 State of the Union Address, Jackson called for Indian removal. Dialogue concerning such an act had been ongoing since 1802 between Georgia and the federal government. The Act was supported by Jackson, the Democratic Party, southern politicians, white settlers, and several state governments, especially Georgia.

Legislative Process. The Indian Removal Act was passed by Congress in 1830. The Senate approved the bill on April 24, 1830, by a vote of 28 to 19. The House of Representatives passed the Act on May 26, 1830, by a vote of 101 to 97. The law provided for an exchange of lands with Indians residing in states or territories and for their removal west of the Mississippi River.

Opposition and Legacy. Henry Clay extensively campaigned against the Act on the National Republican Party ticket in the 1832 United States presidential election, making opposition to the law a defining issue of his candidacy.

Implementation. The Act provided for an exchange of lands with Indians residing in states or territories and for their removal west of the Mississippi River. President Jackson agreed to divide United States territory west of the Mississippi River into districts for tribes to replace the land from which they were removed. The first removal treaty signed was the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek on September 27, 1830.