What was a key policy pushed by Andrew Jackson during his presidency?

The Indian Removal Act is a significant policy associated with Andrew Jackson's presidency, enacted in 1830. This legislation was grounded in the belief of Manifest Destiny, which held that American settlers were destined to expand across the continent. The Act authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties to remove Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States and relocate them to designated "Indian Territory" west of the Mississippi River.

Jackson and his administration argued that this removal was necessary for the economic development of the United States, enabling the expansion of agriculture and settlement in the South. The consequences were catastrophic for many Native American communities, leading to forced relocations and widespread suffering, notably epitomized by the Trail of Tears—a series of forced marches that resulted in significant loss of life and culture among the displaced tribes.

This policy reflects the broader historical themes of American expansionism and the complex and often tragic relationships between the U.S. government and Native American peoples during this period.