Jackson's Administration

The decision of the Jackson administration to remove the Cherokee Indians to lands west of the Mississippi River is thought by many to have been an brusque and abrupt judgment. However, historical documents spanning from the founding of the country to just before Jackson, show that this was not a bold, new decision. Rather, the removal of the Cherokees was the conclusion of 40 years of government policy. Historical documents, in the form of letters, negotiation …

…and practiced; the Jackson Administration decision only stands out because it was a completion of a government policy which spanned almost 40 years of treaties and reallocations. Since it's end result was to push the Cherokee people west of the Mississippi, it seems like a great alteration of Indian affair handling. However, the decision of the Jackson Administration was more of a reformulation of the national policy then it was a direct change to that policy.