Advanced Placement US History (AP US History) Practice Exam

What did the Indian Removal Act of 1830 implement?

1. The protection of Native American lands

2. The relocation of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River

3. A policy of assimilation into American culture

4. The establishment of Native American reservations

The correct answer is: The relocation of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 primarily implemented the relocation of Native Americans west of the Mississippi River. This legislation authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties with Native American tribes to remove them from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States and resettle them in designated territory west of the Mississippi, primarily in present-day Oklahoma. The act was rooted in the belief that land was necessary for the expansion of the United States, and it reflected a broader attitude of displacement toward Native Americans during this period. The act led to the forced removal of thousands of Native Americans, vividly exemplified by the Trail of Tears, where numerous tribes, including the Cherokee, faced dire conditions during their relocation. This policy of removal was justified by the government under the guise of progress and civilization but resulted in significant suffering and loss of life among Native American populations. In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the primary implementation of the Indian Removal Act. While assimilation and the establishment of reservations were part of broader U.S. policy toward Native Americans at different times, they were not the direct outcomes of the Indian Removal Act itself. In summary, the correct understanding of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 is that it mandated the relocation of Native American tribes to lands west of