1. Indian Removal Act: Jackson's policy of Indian removal was largely influenced by the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties with Native American tribes for their removal from lands in the eastern United States to designated areas in the West. The act was based on the premise that Native American tribes could better preserve their cultures and traditions by living in the Western territories, away from the encroachment of white settlers.
2. Manifest Destiny: The ideology of Manifest Destiny, prominent during Jackson's time, held that the United States was destined to expand its territory across the continent. Jackson saw the removal of Native Americans as a necessary step in fulfilling this vision of territorial expansion and westward settlement.
3. Economic Incentives: The lands occupied by Native American tribes in the East were often seen as valuable for economic development, particularly for the expansion of agriculture and the extraction of natural resources. Jackson's policy aimed to acquire these lands for the economic benefit of white settlers and the United States as a whole.
4. Cultural Assumptions: Jackson and many others believed that Native American cultures were inferior to European-American culture and that their removal would ultimately lead to their "civilization." This paternalistic view saw the assimilation and acculturation of Native Americans into white society as a positive outcome of their relocation.
5. Political Pressures: Political pressure from settlers and land speculators who sought access to Native American lands played a role in shaping Jackson's policy. These groups lobbied for government action to remove Native Americans and facilitate the expansion of white settlements.
It's important to note that Jackson's policy of Indian removal and the forced relocation of Native American tribes resulted in significant suffering, cultural disruption, and loss of lives during the Trail of Tears and other similar events.