Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Policy Essay Example

Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Policy Paper Was Andrew Jacksons Indian Removal Policy Motivated by Humanitarian Impulses? Authors: Anthony F. C. Wallace, Robert V. Remini, A Summary By: History 2111 Summer 2011 A summary comparison of views regarding the Indian Removal Act of 1830, Was it an act of humanitarianism intended to help and save the Native American culture from the white settlers, as Robert V. Remini has argued? Or was his intent to destroy the tribal culture and to get rid of the Native Americans, as Anthony F. C Wallace has argued? Robert V. Remini argues that Andrew Jackson’s Indian Removal Act of 1830 was socially motivated by humanitarian impulses, and that Jackson’s actions where driven by the desire to save the culture and populace of the Native Americans from white settlers into Indian territories. Robert V. Remini points out that Andrew Jackson believed that the only way for Indians to be â€Å"protected from certain annihilation† (pg3) was to remove the Native Americans from their land, to expel the Indians from their ancient lands. We will write a custom essay sample on Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Policy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Policy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Andrew Jackson Indian Removal Policy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer To a majority of the Americans the Indians were inferior to them and that their culture was â€Å"a throw back to a darker age† (pg2). Mr. Remini strongly believed that that President Jackson was only trying to protect the Indians from this mentality and by moving the Indians to the west of the Mississippi this would protect them from the white man. Although the policy of removal was first suggested by President Jefferson as the alternative to the Native Americans, Mr. Remini explains how President Jackson had no hesitation in the belief that this was the right course of action. President Jackson would proposed to the Indians that by moving west he would arranged for the exchange of land in the west for the land in the east, that the Indians that moved to the west would be given land titles and would be compensated for their land. President Jackson insisted that the Indians would not be forced to move, that some could stay if the understood and obeyed the laws of the state and recognized that they would be subject to them if they did not obey. Although this proposal was never put into action because of corruption within those agents handling the removal and land greedy state officials. Jackson’s removal policy did not sit well with a lot of groups; many were uncomfortable about it but agreed it had to be done. President Jackson showed great leadership apart from everything else, and handled the Indian Removal act when no one else wanted to address the growing issue of Indian problem. Most government officials saw little to gain from addressing this and would do nothing. Some historians believe the president’s motivation was clearly out of concern for the Indians customs, their culture and their language, but his first concern was the safety of the military, Indians occupying the east might jeopardize the defense of the United States. In December of 1830 President Jackson would submitted the Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek to congress, it would be the first to win Senate approval. President Jackson wanted everything to go smoothly so that the American people would see that he was humane and that this Treaty would benefit both the Indians and the American nation at large. With Jackson located too far away to oversee the actual removal of the Choctaw Nation, they would endure mismanagement, theft, corruption, and inefficiency on a level that would lead to their destruction. Jackson would be deeply offended and the removal of the Choctaw Nation would become one of the worse horror stories of modem era. Anthony F. C Wallace claims that Jackson’s actions as humanitarian were in fact the exact opposite, saying that Jackson was out to destroy the Indian Tribal culture and to move the Native Americans from the southeastern United States to areas west of the Mississippi by force. Mr. Wallace objects to the belief that Jackson was acting humanely, and leans towards a more harsh truth and assessment of President Jackson’s actions and motives. That Jacksons alternative motive for acting like he cared about the Indians to the public and the Tribes was all in an effort to remove the Tribes completely from the southern United States in order to acquire their land. The Act gave the president the power to set aside land in the western territories for the Indians to be moved into. The 1820s was a new era for growth among banks, family farms; railroads in Georgia, with the Cherokee constitution in effect nullified Georgia law and made the Indian nation a â€Å"state within a state. † Georgia legislature 1828 passed a law after Andrew Jackson was elected president that extended the states jurisdiction over the Cherokees living within the state; Georgia was looking to force the president’s hand. Jackson quickly implemented a removal program that would resolve the Georgia’s crisis, but many would claim the removal was not justified but necessary to save the Indians from extinction. Even though President Jackson preferred the Act over any other alternative, he stated that the Removal Act was â€Å"most arduous part of my duty† (pg15). The Indian removal bill covered many emotional issues, such as Christian, national honor, racial, prejudices, over all long and bitter and of course greedy. Both Houses of Congress were petitioned and solicited by all groups of religions and benevolent societies. Jackson’s Administration had successfully undermined the very essence of the Constitution by refusing to enforce existing treaties with Native Americans that had been policy from the time Washington on. The Indians were finally forced to move out and where so sometimes by force. The Cherokee and the Seminoles resisted the removal and tried to hold their ground, by 1837 the Cherokee resistance was defeated, and the Seminoles where removed in 1842 after a long and costly war. President Jackson spoke of the removal in a friendly and concerned tone for Indian welfare stating, â€Å"They (the Indians) and my white children are too near to each other to live in harmony and peace†(pg17). The harsh policies where nevertheless put into place. Jackson policies where not driven or influenced by humanitarian impulses but were a result of and expansionist mentality. Jackson was an Indian fighter from Tennessee and clearly wanted the Indians out of the picture as the country expanded. This view can be supported further by the fact that President Jackson ignored a Supreme Court ruling which stated that the Indians had a right to that land, Jackson still removed the Indians under harsh conditions and sometimes by force. The Indian Removal Act was Jacksons way of solving the Indian Question. Some people view the Indian Removal Act as a noble attempt by Jackson to save the Indians from the expansion of the United States, other see it as Jacksons way of moving the Indians out of the picture and to secure more land for the growing country. Either way the Indian Removal Act is what it is, a crime against the Native Americans which had a right to the land of their ancestors and which they inhabited before American Expansion.

Escaping to Reality Fashion Photography in the 1990s by Elliot Smedley

Escaping to Reality Fashion Photography in the 1990s by Elliot Smedley Written by Elliot Smedley, â€Å"Escaping to Reality: Fashion Photography in the 1990s† explores how contemporary fashion photography is adopting realistic styles by using realistic activities contrary to ideal styles that had dominated art and photography for decades.Advertising We will write a custom book review sample on Escaping to Reality: Fashion Photography in the 1990s by Elliot Smedley specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More A shift from idealism to realism has kept in tandem with current socio-economic conditions that reflect consumerism. Realistic approach to photography has enhanced fashion photography because photographs appear alive with fascinating backgrounds that appeal to sight. According to Smedley, spontaneous snapshots have realistic aesthetic value, which is critical in fashion photography because it gives greater realism and wider appeal (145). Spontaneous snapshots capture mannerism, gestures, and looks of huma ns in natural settings; thus, have greater appeal, which is praiseworthy in enhancing commercial image and promoting consumerism culture. Thus, spontaneous snapshots are valuable because they depict realistic images and activities, which are fashionable lifestyles of people in contemporary society. Through realistic approach, fashion photography can portray current themes that are in society such as culture, sexuality, social class and feminism. Photography images can depict certain cultural values and activities that a given society practices. In 1980s, fashion photography depicted women as ‘super models’ because they reflected ideal beauty that paved way for realism in 1990s. Smedley argues that realism emerged in 1990s because social class shifted from perceiving ideal models to keeping abreast with ‘spirit of the time’ that shaped fashion photography (148). Thus, realism became a dominant approach to photography because realistic styles in fashion photo graphy appealed to many people. Additionally, feminism ideology liberated women and changed their depiction in fashion imagery from being mere sexual objects.Advertising Looking for book review on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Documentary of fashion photography shows that the driving force of the fashion industry is commerce. Photographs have varied connotations that appeal to people and shape their attitudes and perceptions, thus influence tastes and preferences of people commercially. Smedley asserts that fashion photography invites people into the private world of fantasy where consumerism thrives (152). However, the emergence of realism is significantly changing the commercial influence of ideal photography in terms of consumerism. Smedley, Elliot. â€Å"Escaping to Reality: Fashion Photography in the 1990s.†Ã‚  Commonwealth of Australia, (n.d.): 143-156.