"What does it mean to be a nation?"

In 1836, nationalism was exerting a strong influence in foreign affairs and westward expansion in America. Part of this influence came from the Indian Removal Act Of 1830. This act, was the idea of Andrew Jackson, who was president at the time. Jackson believed that the only solution was to move the Native Americans from their lands to areas farther west. The idea passed congress in 1830 and that's when the decided to provide the funds to negotiate treaties. The treaties would force the Native Americans out of their lands, and move west. Jackson saw his idea as "not only liberal, but generous."

I think that the Indian Removal Act Of 1830, was the worst decision that we as a nation has ever made. We took what authority we had, and made the Native Americans move out of land that they thought they could call home. In order to be a nation, everybody must have equal rights and there must be communication between the nation's leaders and it's people. When a nation's leaders and its people have a equal say so in important decisions, then a nation tends to be more secuessful. I think that if Andrew Jackson would've thought about his decision about the act more carefully, then he could've found a alternate solution. This is what I think it takes to be a nation.