What did the Indian Removal Act authorize?

The Indian Removal Act, passed in 1830, primarily authorized the negotiation for the removal of Native American tribes living in the eastern United States to lands west of the Mississippi River. This policy was rooted in the desire of American settlers to expand into territory occupied by Native Americans. The act facilitated treaties with various tribes, often under coercive circumstances, leading to the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, notably culminating in events such as the Trail of Tears.

The emphasis of the act was on negotiation, even though the process overwhelmingly favored the government and often disregarded the rights and sovereignty of the tribes involved. By focusing on removal, the act aimed to clear these lands for white settlers and promote agricultural development in the newly available territories, aligning with the broader ideology of Manifest Destiny that characterized much of 19th-century American expansionism.