Question answered by Paige Leitnaker, Director of the School & Classroom Program at PTPI.
5. On page 220, author John Ehle quotes then U.S. President-Elect, Andrew Jackson, saying “Build a fire under them. When it gets hot enough, they’ll move.” What is your reaction to this quote and U.S. President Andrew Jackson’s involvement with the relocation of many American Indian tribes?
I was really stunned by this quote. It is hard to believe that a U.S. President was so vengeful and land-hungry. I think the surprise stems from the fact that we are taught to respect and hold Presidents in esteem from a very young age – this notion is probably universal. The most surprising part to me is that, as a young country, the U.S. was not trying to hide its interest in relocating the many American Indian tribes trying to hold onto their land and cultures. In fact, the actual bill passed was called the Indian Removal Act of 1830 – and there is nothing concealed about that! It is hard to imagine this kind of behavior; however, one only needs to look at history and present day conflicts to see that this belief in one ethnicity having more rights over land than another has been prevalent and continues today.
The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.
Tags: Cherokee Nation, Global Book Club, John Ehle, Trail of Tears
President Jackson was indeed very power hungry and I was very surpised to learn in this book about his inhumane efforts to remove the Cherokees from their land. And even more shocking was that Andrew Jackson, along with his administration, removed more than 46,000 Native Americans from their lands, opening 25 million acres of land to white settlers. What I could not comprehend was that Jackson was claiming that this was done “for the good” of the Native Americans. He felt that it would save the Indians from any violent acts from the whites and they could live in peace. In my opinion, it was really just an excuse for inhumane behavior and to gain power and wealth.
@Alesha – I love that you pointed out that near the end of the book Jackson is quoted calling American Indians “friends” while he insists that they leave their land – land they feel connected to, that feels as vital to their communities as water is to a body. It’s amazing what power can make a person do.
This quote from Andrew Jackson is both shocking and appalling, especially when read in isolation. The American Indians were well aware that the United State government was after their land. I do not think, however, that they, or really anyone else, would have anticipated the siege of land was being so brutal. The Indians had received positive encouragement from previous Presidents. For example on pages sixty and sixty-one in Trail of Tears Ehle writes that, ” George Washington said the Indian can be equal citizens,” and “Jefferson said,’ I believe the Indian, then, in body and mind equal to that white man.”‘ These comments are very different from the “Build a fire under them” comment made by Andrew Jackson.
The book does, however, set the quote up to come immediately after the funeral of Jackson’s wife. It was clear in the text that Jackson was having a difficult time dealing with the death of his wife, as would be expected. It almost seems as though this quote was made when his emotions were still running high due to the death of his wife. If this, however, was the case it is not an excuse for his actions or harsh comment.
Jackson wanted to be President very badly, and before he even took the oath of office he had already shown that he could and would act irrationally. I do not think that Jackson had thought a lot about his comment, before he spoke. Being President, however, requires a lot of thought and not just quick judgment which Jackson seems to have failed to do.
Later in the book Jackson’s tone changes to something more politically correct, although his real message seems to be the same. On page 224 Ehle writes President Jackson sent a letter to Congress endorsing the removal of the Indians. This time however he insisted that it should be “voluntary,” but that if the Indians did not choose to move they would have to be absorbed by the state. Although Jackson’s tone may have changed in an effort to save his image, he stayed very focused on removing the American Indians from Georgia and relocating them in the west. This can be seen in the letter President Jackson writes to the Cherokee which appears on pages 275 through 278. Jackson’s tone has changed so much as to even call the Indian’s his “friends,” but he still insists the same thing – that they move.
I agree. I felt deep sadness and anger with in me when I read the quote. The attitude was just inhumane.
Unfortunately this kind of behavior is going on even to day in the world in a subtle way at different levels. History is the evidence. I always wonder Why it has to be that way?