What was the primary purpose of the Indian Removal Act of 1830?

The primary purpose of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 was to relocate Native American tribes to lands west of the Mississippi River. This act reflected the U.S. government's push to open up land for white settlers and agricultural development in the southeastern states, where many Native American tribes had been living. The legislation authorized the federal government to negotiate treaties that would require Native American tribes to move to designated territory, often referred to as Indian Territory, which is present-day Oklahoma. This forced relocation resulted in significant suffering, known as the Trail of Tears, as many tribes were uprooted from their ancestral lands and faced harsh conditions during the journey to their new territories.