On May 28, 1830, President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act into law. The act authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties to move Native American nations east of the Mississippi River to lands in the west. Supporters argued that removal would reduce conflict between settlers and Native nations. In practice, the policy led to forced relocations, including the tragic Trail of Tears suffered by the Cherokee and other tribes. Thousands died from disease, exposure, and starvation during the journeys. The Indian Removal Act remains one of the most painful episodes in U.S. history and has had lasting effects on Native communities.
