The Indian Removal Act was a law passed by the United States Congress in 1830. It authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties to relocate Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the southeastern United States to designated territories west of the Mississippi River. This act aimed to open up land for white settlers and agriculture. The act primarily affected tribes such as the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Chickasaw. Many Native Americans faced forced removal, leading to the tragic Trail of Tears, where thousands suffered from harsh conditions during their relocation. The Indian Removal Act significantly impacted Native American communities and their cultures.