What act led to the forced relocation of Native Americans from their homelands?

The Indian Removal Act of 1830 is significant because it implemented policies that mandated the relocation of Native American tribes living in the Southeastern United States to designated areas west of the Mississippi River. This act was a major component of the U.S. government's strategy to expand its territory and settle new lands, often ignoring the rights and treaties previously established with Native American nations. The act resulted in the tragic displacement and suffering of thousands of Native Americans, most notably exemplified by the Trail of Tears, where numerous tribes were forcibly moved from their ancestral homelands, leading to widespread hardship, disease, and death.

Other acts, while relevant to Native American history, did not specifically mandate forced relocation. The Homestead Act, for example, encouraged westward expansion but did not directly involve Native American relocation. The Indian Reorganization Act was designed to reverse some of the damage done through previous policies and allow for self-governance among Native tribes. The Indian Appropriations Act set aside funds for the movement and management of Native American tribes but was not the direct source of mandated relocations like the Indian Removal Act was.