Primary Sources October 16, 2008

The primary source was found by using a word search for primary southern documents. The word search led to the website www.ourdocuments.gov. The website is sponsored by the United States National Archives and Records Administration. I believe this is a reliable source, because the government holds all original documents and this website is used in many research projects. The primary source that is used is President Andrew Jackson’s message to Congress on Indian Removal in 1803.

Jackson’s message begins with announcing that two main Indian tribes have agreed to the terms of the American government to move to another territory. Jackson insists that the move must be done quickly for the protection of American citizens and Indians. He also lists many of the benefits that will result form the Indian removal such as opening of all Tennessee and Louisiana land, and further separation of Indians from settlers.  Jackson then describes how good of a deal the government is giving the Indians, and how any white man would jump at the chance to be given land and place to live. He agrees that forcing them to move from their homes where their ancestors lived will be tuff. But, he maintains that this is what the Americans did to come to this land, and it is what their children will to in their life time.

Jackson believes this is a great victory for the government. The newly acquired land that is now available will flourish with new towns and agricultural land. Even though Jackson mentions the removal of the Indians from their homeland will be tuff on them emotionally. You can tell that he does not really care for the Indians at all in the way he describes them in his message. He uses the words savage, red skin, and uncivilized numerous time throughout his message to describe the Indians. At the very end of his message, Jackson says this is the only way to save the Indians from “utter annihilation”, which is probably what he would prefer.      

Another primary source we found online is at this website: http://www.yamaguchy.netfirms.com/7897401/benton/calhoun_340113.html It is the recording of statements said in the United States Senate on January 13, 1834, mostly by Senator John C. Calhoun. Here, he argues that the North has already impressed its will upon the South, and he also argues against the Bank of the United States.

 

This came at a moment of near crisis for the United States. Already, Calhoun has turned away from his old nationalist leanings towards sectionalism, favoring South Carolina about the protection of the Union. The language he uses, suggesting the South is under threat, is a preview of even more incendiary language that will be used up until the start of the American Civil War.

 

We only stumbled upon this website by accident. It is, unlike most other sites cited by our group, not directly linked to a university. Still, it has plenty of content to make itself somewhat useful, especially when analyzing events up until the Civil War. Here is the main page to show its additional offerings:

 

http://www.yamaguchy.netfirms.com/