Smart Talk: NPR’s Steve Inskeep on his new book Jacksonland

 

What to look for on Smart Talk Wednesday, May 27, 2015:

In 1812, there were two maps of what would become the southeastern United States.  One was known as “The White Man’s Map.”  It included the states of Georgia and Tennsessee and the Mississippi Territory.  The second was called “The Indian Map.”  Five Native American tribes or nations lived in the same geographic area.  They were the Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole in what is now Florida. 

Less than 25 years later, there was one map and it more closely resembled The White Man’s Map.

Andrew Jackson — the man who went on to become the seventh president of the United States — is probably the one person most responsible for that area of the country becoming states with natives moving elseswhere and not always by their own choice.

Cherokee Chief John Ross fought against the Creek Indians under Jackson but went on to become Jackson’s most persistent antagonist.

NPR Morning Edition Host Steve Inskeep has written about a period in American history that explains how the southeastern United States came to be and Jackson’s military and political role in it.

His new book is called Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, Cherokee Chief John Ross and a Great American Land Grab.

Steve Inskeep appears on Wednesday’s Smart Talk to discuss the book.