Answer:
The Indian Removal Act was strongly supported by the southern states, where the population was anxious to get hold of vast expanses of uncultivated land occupied by the five civilized tribes. In particular, the state of Georgia, the largest state at that time, was involved in a dispute with the Cherokee. President Jackson, who advocated the deportation of Indians for reasons of national security, hoped that deportation could clear the crisis in Georgia. While the deportation of the Natives was to be, according to the law, voluntary, heavy pressure was placed on Indian leaders to sign the treaty. Most observers, whether they were for or against the modalities provided by the treaty, understood that the approval of the law would have involved the removal of many Indians from their homelands. Some Indian-American leaders who initially opposed the implementation of the treaty, reconsidered their position after President Jackson's re-election in 1832 for a second term.
Most white Americans favored the passage of the deportation act even though a strong debate had been created on the law. Many Christian missionaries and in particular the missionary Jeremiah Evarts strongly opposed the approval of the Act. Senator Theodore Frelinghuysen and Congressman David Crockett of Tennessee openly declared themselves against the legislation. The transfer deed was approved by Congress after a very tight debate.
