This document that I made for you doesn't adjust to the blog very well. I numbered all of the lines in your printed document, so questions that refer to certain lines may not be easy to follow.  The line that starts "It gives me" is line 2. Do not count spaces in between paragraphs. I am posting the message, anyway.

Andrew Jackson's Annual Message

It gives me pleasure to announce to Congress that the benevolent policy of the Government, steadily pursued for nearly thirty years, in relation to the removal of the Indians beyond the white settlements is approaching to a happy consummation. Two important tribes have accepted the provision made for their removal at the last session of Congress, and it is believed that their example will induce the remaining tribes also to seek the same obvious advantages.

The consequences of a speedy removal will be important to the United States, to individual States, and to the Indians themselves. The pecuniary advantages which it promises to the Government are the least of its recommendations. It puts an end to all possible danger of collision between the authorities of the General and State Governments on account of the Indians. It will place a dense and civilized population in large tracts of country now occupied by a few savage hunters. By opening the whole territory between Tennessee on the north and Louisiana on the south to the settlement of the whites it will incalculably strengthen the southwestern frontier and render the adjacent States strong enough to repel future invasions without remote aid. It will relieve the whole State of Mississippi and the western part of Alabama of Indian occupancy, and enable those States to advance rapidly in population, wealth, and power. It will separate the Indians from immediate contact with settlements of whites; free them from the power of the States; enable them to pursue happiness in their own way and under their own rude institutions; will retard the progress of decay, which is lessening their numbers, and perhaps cause them gradually, under the protection of the Government and through the influence of good counsels, to cast off their savage habits and become an interesting, civilized, and Christian community.

Here are some synonyms/definitions you might need for the underlined words:

Benevolent- generous; consummation-conclusion; induce- persuade; render-cause; retard-delay. Others will be in your questions.

1. Not long after the Indian Removal Act was passed, President Jackson gave this, one of his annual addresses to Congress. Today we call such a speech the ___________ ___ ____ ___________ Address.

2. How long does Jackson say they have been trying to achieve the Indian Removal agreement? ________________ What line says this?_________

3. What words does Jackson use to let you know his attitude toward the new legislation is positive? (Cite the lines, also.)________________________________________________________

4. How does he describe the two tribes who have agreed to the provisions of the Act? __________________

5. What does he want these two tribes to do? _____________________________

6. What three groups will benefit from the Act, according to Jackson? _________ ____________________________________________________________

7. Pecuniary is a word that is derived from the Latin word pecunia, which means money. What might be a synonym that would take its place in line 9? _______________________________________

8. If the pecuniary advantages are the least important reasons for liking the Removal Act, how many others does he name? Put a star at the beginning of each reason.

9. Look at Merriam-Webster’s definition for savage:

1
a : not domesticated or under human control : UNTAMED

b : lacking the restraints normal to civilized human beings : FIERCE, FEROCIOUS

2
: WILD, UNCULTIVATED

3

a : BOORISH, RUDE

b : MALICIOUS

4

: lacking complex or advanced culture : UNCIVILIZED

— sav•age•ly adverb

— sav•age•ness noun
Jefferson contrasts who would be moving into the land: a dense and civilized population versus a few savage hunters. Which of these do you think Jackson meant? ______ What do you remember about the Iroquois to realize that it can’t be #4? ______________________________________________________________


Would a President today ever characterize a group of people this way? Why or why not? _____________________________________________________________________________________________




10. What are the boundaries of this new territory to the North and South? ______________________________________________________________

11. Which two states does he say will become more powerful? ______________________________________________________________

12. In lines 19-24 he is telling the advantages of the Act for which group of people? _____________________________________________________________

13. Which definition for rude is probably intended in line 21? ______

1: being in a rough or unfinished state : CRUDE 2: lacking refinement or delicacy: INELEGANT3: offensive in manner or actionDISCOURTEOUS 4. marked by or suggestive of lack of training or skill : INEXPERIENCED  5: occurring abruptly and disconcertingly


14. What does he hope is the final outcome for Indians now that this Removal Act is law? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. Judging by what you know about the results of the Indian Removal Act, how accurate was this last statement? _______________________________________________________________