The Indian Removal Act of 1830 had significant implications, primarily leading to the forced relocation of Native American tribes from their ancestral homelands in the southeastern United States to designated areas west of the Mississippi River, known as Indian Territory. This policy aimed to facilitate westward expansion for American settlers. The act resulted in the tragic Trail of Tears, where thousands of Native Americans, including the Cherokee, faced severe hardships, loss of life, and cultural disintegration. The Indian Removal Act highlighted the U.S. government's ongoing disregard for Native American rights and sovereignty, and it underscored the devastating impact of American expansionism on indigenous peoples.