What was the outcome of the Trail of Tears?

The
outcome was a humanitarian catastrophe on a truly massive scale. Before President Andrew Jackson
came to power, successive administrations had adopted a relativelyand I emphasize the word
"relatively" herebenign policy towards Native Americans. In a very general sense, as
long as they could assimilate into mainstream American society, they would be permitted to
occupy their ancient ancestral lands.

However, Jackson adopted a different,
and much harsher, approach. Tribes in the Southeast of the country were to be forcibly removed
and relocated west of the Mississippi where they would be resettled on designated Indian
Territory. Astonishing as it may seem, Jackson apparently believed that this was a humane policy
that would actually prevent Native Americans from being systematically wiped out by white
American settlers. In actual fact, the new policy was disastrous for the Native American tribes
concerned, especially the Cherokee. Tens of thousands of men, women, and children perished on
the long trek out West, struck down by cold, hunger, and disease.