Changes

Jackson had expressed the opinion that the relocation was a generous offer to the Indians, and that they would be very much better off with the freedom and autonomy of their new territories. Jackson was an advocate of strong military rule that would overwhelm people (like [[John C. Calhoun]]) who disagreed with his liberal policies. Jackson rejected the pleas of the evangelical ministers because he did not feel religious motives should dictate his policies.  He rejected the Supreme Court decision on the matter because he saw the preisdency as the superior interpreter of the Constitution.  Liberal historians have celebrated Jackson's stong presidency.  Robert Remini, Jackson's most fervent defender, admits that the Trail of Tears had horrors that "beggar the imagination," noting the Indians were "American citizens who were denied their basic civil rights as well as their property because of the nation's perceived need and fear."  But Remini goes on to argue it was better for the Indians in the long run because it saved many of the eastern Indian nations from almost certain annihilation.<ref> Robert Remini, ''Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars'' (2002), pp. viii, 55, 228, 236</ref>   

Jackson had expressed the opinion that the relocation was a generous offer to the Indians, and that they would be very much better off with the freedom and autonomy of their new territories. Jackson was an advocate of strong military rule that would overwhelm people (like [[John C. Calhoun]]) who disagreed with his liberal policies. Jackson rejected the pleas of the evangelical ministers because he did not feel religious motives should dictate his policies.  He rejected the Supreme Court decision on the matter because he saw the preisdency as the superior interpreter of the Constitution.  Liberal historians have celebrated Jackson's stong presidency.  Robert Remini, Jackson's most fervent defender, admits that the Trail of Tears had horrors that "beggar the imagination," noting the Indians were "American citizens who were denied their basic civil rights as well as their property because of the nation's perceived need and fear."  But Remini goes on to argue it was better for the Indians in the long run because it saved many of the eastern Indian nations from almost certain annihilation.<ref> Robert Remini, ''Andrew Jackson and His Indian Wars'' (2002), pp. viii, 55, 228, 236</ref>   

Private John G. Burnett participated in the forced relocation, and wrote about the great suffering that the Cherokees endured.

Private John G. Burnett participated in the forced relocation, and wrote about the great suffering that the Cherokees endured.<ref>http://www.cherokee.org/Culture/128/Page/default.aspx</ref>

Evangelical Protestants were horrified at the violent removal and crusaded against Jackson and the Democratic party policy of [[Manifest Destiny]], which threatened to destroy most of the remaining Indians. The Protestants supported the opposition [[Whig Party]], which denounced the removals, and called for a more Christian approach to the Indians, emphasizing the need for morality in public policy, and the use of education and civilizing devices (like teaching Indians how to farm instead of hunt) to save the remaining Indians.<ref> Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp, ''Religion and Society in Frontier California'' (1994) [http://books.google.com/books?id=SJ4PfXvvKzcC&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=%22trail+of+tears%22+evangelical+protestants&source=web&ots=rGf9bR8YFI&sig=47D5fiFZFhla9XvO-NPIZZbNIoI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA17,M1 online page 17]</ref>

Evangelical Protestants were horrified at the violent removal and crusaded against Jackson and the Democratic party policy of [[Manifest Destiny]], which threatened to destroy most of the remaining Indians. The Protestants supported the opposition [[Whig Party]], which denounced the removals, and called for a more Christian approach to the Indians, emphasizing the need for morality in public policy, and the use of education and civilizing devices (like teaching Indians how to farm instead of hunt) to save the remaining Indians.<ref> Laurie F. Maffly-Kipp, ''Religion and Society in Frontier California'' (1994) [http://books.google.com/books?id=SJ4PfXvvKzcC&pg=PA17&lpg=PA17&dq=%22trail+of+tears%22+evangelical+protestants&source=web&ots=rGf9bR8YFI&sig=47D5fiFZFhla9XvO-NPIZZbNIoI&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA17,M1 online page 17]</ref>