What was the primary difference between Andrew Jackson's policy and that of his predecessors regarding Native American relations?

The primary difference between Andrew Jackson's policy and that of his predecessors regarding Native American relations lies in the focus on relocation versus assimilation. Andrew Jackson was a strong advocate for the removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral lands, particularly through policies such as the Indian Removal Act of 1830, which aimed to relocate Native tribes to areas west of the Mississippi River. This was a significant shift from earlier policies that, while often coercive, sometimes included attempts at assimilation and coexistence rather than outright relocation.

Jackson's approach was driven by a belief in the expansion of American territory and the idea that Native Americans could not coexist with white settlers in the burgeoning United States. In contrast, previous administrations had engaged in more varied strategies that sometimes included diplomacy, treaties, and efforts to integrate Native Americans into American society.

This emphasis on relocation marked a more aggressive and unyielding stance toward Native American tribes, leading to significant suffering and conflict, such as the Trail of Tears. The focus on moving tribes to designated lands starkly contrasted with earlier negotiations or treaties that might have sought to accommodate Native American autonomy or rights in varying degrees.