Was Andrew Jackson's Indian Removal Policy motivated by Humanitarian Impulses?
             Taking Sides/Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in American History.
             Historians have long debated on whether or not Andrew Jackson's Indian removal policy was motivated by Humanitarian Impulses. This debate can be seen in the writings of Robert V. Remini in "Andrew Jackson and the Course of American Freedom" and in Anthony F.C. Wallace in "The Long, Bitter Trail: Andrew Jackson and the Indians." Remini argues that Jackson's Indian removal policy was motivated by Humanitarian motives, in order to protect the Indians from destruction by white hands. On the other end of the debate is Wallace who argues that Jackson was not motivated by humanitarian impulses, but oversaw a harsh removal policy in regards to the Indians welfare.
             Remini has outlined several issues to support his argument in favor of Jackson. The attitudes of white Americans towards Indians varied at times. Some whites believed that the Indians could be integrated into white society, but others felt the Indians were savage and inferior. The colonists would at times drive the Indians away from their homelands and at times murder the Indians. The founding fathers felt that the Indians could be civilized according to white society and take their place next to the white man. Remini has shown that it was Jackson who first suggested the removal policy of the Indians in place of the civilizing process. Jackson proposed this policy on the basis that to many white Americans held to many prejudices towards the Indians and that the two societies would be able to coexist due to the white Americans attitudes towards the Indians and their land. Jackson believed that removal of the Indians was the only way that their society would survive. Jac!
             kson drew up legislation that would empower him to exchange unorganized public land in exchange for Indian land....