The actions of the US Government with regard to the expulsion of Indian tribes east of the Mississippi during the 1830's and the actions of the Federal Government toward the Japanese-Americans in California during World War II hold many similarities and many differences. Though a century apart, these actions resulted in segregation of two races of people and were inhumane. In the following, these two actions of the US Government will be discussed and analyzed. .
Foremost, due to much disagreement between the Cherokee Indians and the state of Georgia, President Andrew Jackson signed a policy past by Congress in order to remove the Indians from white settlements. In this policy, the government was allowed to bargain contracts with Native American tribes, and reimburse them for their lands. They would then relocate them west of the Mississippi and support the tribes for a year following the removal. Jackson believed the Indians were savages who meandered meaninglessly around in the wild and due to this he supported the policy. The "original inhabitants of our forests"" were "incapable of self-government."" (Garraty 259) However, many sources feel as though land greed was a large motive for the government's position on Indian Removal. For instance, the land of the Cherokee was excellent land for growing cotton and other Indian lands were appropriate for other interests. Finally, the land in which the Indians received for their land was thinly settled and was thought to have little if no value. The Indian Removal Act moved more than 70,000 Indians out of their homes across the Mississippi. .
Nearly a century later, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, many reared the possibility of people of Japanese decent being involved in sabotage or espionage for Japan. General John L. Dewitt, Head of Western Defense Command stated, "The Japanese race is an enemy race."" (Garraty 787) This in turn made the 112,000 Japanese-Americans, probable enemies.