The importance of approaching the removals as a period of “many removals” is because there were many groups that were removed from their land. There were many groups of Native Americans that were forced to leave their homes during the period of removal. By generalizing this time by stating that it was removing Native Americans as a whole negates the fact that there were many groups that were taken from their land and put on a path to a designated zone that the government chose for them. Nakia Parker made clear in the podcast that history tends to focus on certain Native American groups like the Cherokee when it comes to the removal but there were many that were taken from their land. Groups all throughout the South were removed and put on a path called the Trail of Tears where they were exploited. People knew that the traveling was tough and made the Indigenous people pay high prices for food as well as other supplies. The United States government was clearing the southern part of the country for the population they deemed as American.
The extension of slavery and removal of Native communities are tied together due to the fact that they happened due to the other occurring. As Native communities were forcibly cleared from the southern part of the United States people started moving to the South with slaves as part of their property. Some Native Americans also owned slaves at the time which forced the slaves to move with them when they were expelled from the area. One consequence of this expulsion was slave families being separated and losing contact with those they were leaving behind to follow the trail. The policies regarding Native Americans tended to undermine the authority of the communities. The government would take away land that was otherwise promised to Native Americans. Historic court cases are evidence that Native Americans tried to bring these injustices to the government body but were unsuccessful. Relations that were once respected between trade partners changed to Native American communities being treated as though they were invaders on their own homeland by those who had robbed them.