Andrew Jackson announced: "It is deplorable that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes." As one of the major political powers in the United States during his presidential reign from 1829 to 1837, Jackson himself can be seen as one of the “rich and powerful” who used the “government for his own selfish purposes.” One of the ways this could be seen as expressed was through Jackson's involvement with the Indian Removal Act. The United States wanted to take over the unsettled western lands and to do so codified the Indian Removal Act. President Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act law which granted lands in the West that were unsettled in exchange for lands that Indians already inhabited within the borders of the United States. President Jackson's intentions were in the hope that the United States could conquer the lands of the West without major conflicts with the Indians. Andrew Jackson's motivations for enacting and enforcing the Indian Removal Act included the acquisition of political power and lands thus leading him to abuse his political power through acts such as violating the Constitution. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay One of the main aspects of the Indian Removal Act was the fact that Andrew Jackson wanted to show how he somehow cared about the Indians and at the same time wanted to remove them from the land. “Jackson firmly believed that removal was the only policy that would prevent the decimation of these Native Americans.” President Jackson thought that removal of the Indians was the only way the natives could be protected from being killed; he saw it as a way to “save” them. Jackson wanted the Indians to be informed about the U.S. government and how they could see the government as a positive, well-organized government. “There they will be able to learn the “arts of civilization” so that the race is perpetuated and serves as a reminder of the humanity and justice of this government.” Andrew Jackson hoped that the Indians would be able to do well and easily re-establish themselves in their new location and prosper. “Jackson fully expected the Indians to thrive in their new environment, educate their children, acquire the skills of white civilization so as to improve their living conditions, and become citizens of the United States.” Overall, Jackson touted the Indian Removal Act as one that would benefit both parties to it; Americans and Native Americans. The use, or rather, abuse of the Constitution and other political norms was another driving factor that showed Andrew Jackson's abuse of power towards the Indians and in particular the Inidan Removal Act. to the Indian tribes within our limits a just and liberal policy, and to pay such humane and considerate attention to their rights and desires as is consistent with the habits of our Government and the feelings of our people." Many citizens of the United States had distorted opinions about the people of their race and their desire for the country to gain more power. They sided with Jackson because of "their racism, their decades-long fear and mistrust of Native Americans, and their insatiable desire for the land they occupied." This partisan view of Native Americans led the United States and its citizens to not understand, and therefore not have much regard for, Native people. The United States has certain standards such as respect for other nations, however, some of their intentions have strayed far.