Equality is when all people have the same rights and liberties.
The Indian Removal Act
On May 28th, 1830, Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, which forced Native Americans, such as the Cherokees in Georgia, to leave their land and move out west. Before all of this took place, white settlers had wanted the Native American’s lands, but had feared them. Andrew Jackson, the President at the time, had been a strong supporter of removing the Indians; he was known for his brutality towards the Creek Indians. When Congress finally passed the Indian Removal Act, Andrew Jackson was quick to sign the bill into law. Soon, the removal began, thus beginning the Trail of Tears.
The Trail of Tears
The Trail of Tears was the route that the United States Government forced Native American tribes to take as they journeyed west of the Mississippi River. It stretched approximately 1000 miles. The Indians who marched on the trail were exposed to freezing cold weather conditions. Many died from malnutrition, starvation, and diseases such as smallpox, malaria, measles, cholera and pneumonia. Of the 16,000 Cherokees forced out of their homes, 4,000 perished on the trail. Because of these horrible conditions, the Cherokee refer to the Trail of Tears as “Nunna dual Isunyi” which translates to “The Trail Where They Cried.” Today, it reminds America of its unequal past and the horrible, unfair ways Native Americans were treated.
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This is an artist's depiction of the Trail of Tears
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What's the Connection?
The Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears are both examples of inequality that cloud America’s past. White supremacy is written all across these major events. The Native Americans had lived on these lands far before the first settlers came, but were forced to leave. Many of the Americans who wanted the land thought that the Native Americans were inferior to them- just because of their skin color. Because the Native Americans looked different and their culture was different, the white settlers believed they deserved the land and assumed they were smarter than the Natives. Even though equality was one of America’s founding ideals, these events show the inequality that the Native Americans experienced.
New York: Set to Pass Equal-Pay Law
For years, legislation has been working to pass an equal-pay law. However, the state of New York is ready to pass it now. The article says, “’The Assembly majority has made a commitment to put families first, and with a growing number of New York’s women responsible for supporting those families, we have a duty to ensure they are fairly represented and compensated for the work they do,’ Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, D-Bronx, said at a news conference Monday” (Campbell). Taking the fact that working women are important into consideration, they have made their decision. After two years of battling over the bill that requires equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender, the Assembly finally passed it with a 119-0 vote. The Senate passed the bill in January and it is now being sent to the Governor Andrew Cuomo. He has promised to sign it. Once Cuomo signs it, the new bill will take effect after 90 days.
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Click through the gallery to see women working to provide for themselves and/or their families.
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Equal-Pay: Connection to Equality
Women make up almost half the world’s work force, but only earn up to 77% of their male counterpart’s earnings. The law that requires equal-pay for equal work regardless of gender will soon go into effect in New York. New York might possibly be able to convince other states to pass this law too. It is also making more people aware of the fact that women are not getting paid as much as men are, some even having the same jobs. After years and years of inequality, women are slowly, but surely starting to be treated as equally as men. This new law in New York could lead to greater things in the future and will improve our country.