Submit a discussion post that considers the complexities and ambiguities of the democratic process. In crafting your post, consider the following questions, which are based on the primary sources in the Google document above.
Why and how did Andrew Jackson argue that the expulsion of Indigenous nations was democratic? How did he represent Indigenous removal as necessary to fulfill the federal government’s responsibility for promoting individual liberty, national security, and the common good?
How did Chief John Ross and the Cherokee nation challenge the Indian Removal Act in the 1829 Memorial (petition) to Congress?
Did Ross’s protest against the Indian Removal Act of 1830 undermine Jackson’s claim that Indigenous removal was a function of democracy?
What might the conflict between the factions led by Major Ridge and Chief John Ross reveal about the complexity of democracy in the Cherokee nation? How did the factional conflict over the New Echota Treaty illuminate their differing perspectives on the purpose and responsibilities of government?
