Trail of Tears
Reading Analysis Guide: Trail of Tears Part A The author, Dee Brown, gives a brief description about Andrew Jackson’s policy on Indian removal in order to gain popularity and power. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the cause and effects of “Indian Removal” during Jackson’s terms, ultimately creating the “Trail of Tears. ” As early as the colonial period Indian removal was evident, Brown claims. Indians never really got along with white settlers, and even if they tried to resolve the conflicts, it would fail.
Indian Removal calmed down over time but in 1828, Andrew Jackson ran for president and immediately knew he would have to wipe out the frontier states. He made a treaty in which the Indians had to remove themselves from the states and move west toward the Mississippi. On there “trip” to the Mississippi, Indians faced many hardships that included starvation, death, and disease. Part B I feel that all the information given was germane and strengthened the chapter as a whole.
The strongest points are found when the author talks about the history of Indian Removal. He states that mistreatment of Indians was evident as early as the Colonial Period. I think starting from the historical view of Indian removal made the story flow well and did a good job at catching the reader’s attention. Brown also tells about how the Indians were in America first, and over the years they began ceding their land and adapting to the “white man’s way. ” Part C
The Trial of Tears reminds me of the Taiwan and China during the domination of Chiang Kai-Sheik and Mao Zedong. Chiang Kai-Sheik was apart of the Kuomintang (KMT), while Mao was apart of the Communist Party of China. This can be compared to the Trail of Tears , because neither Chiang nor Mao would accept each other, which reflects the relationship of the Indians and the white settlers in the states. As a result , Chiang moved to Taiwann and declared independence from China causing the ROC, while Mao ruled just the mainland of China.
Some of the same aspects occurred during this time period as in the Trail of Tears. Chiang are like the Indians, while Mao is like Andrew Jackson (along with the white settlers). Although Chiang and Mao had conflicts, no major violence occurred, however during the Indian Removal period you had the Black Hawk War and rebellions by the Indians. Also, Mao did not force Chiang to move, but Andrew did force the Indians.
