What was one significant consequence of the Indian Removal Act?

The Indian Removal Act, enacted in 1830, aimed to relocate Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeastern United States to designated "Indian Territory" west of the Mississippi River. One significant consequence of this legislation was the forced displacement of Native American tribes, which involved the coercive removal of thousands of individuals from their homes. This act not only disrupted the livelihoods of these tribes but also led to significant loss of life and cultural disintegration due to the harsh conditions of the relocation process, famously epitomized by the Trail of Tears.

While the establishment of new settlements occurred as Native Americans were removed from their lands, this was not a direct consequence of the Act but rather a broader outcome of westward expansion. The creation of multiple orphanages was a response to various societal needs over time, but it's not directly tied to the Indian Removal Act. The abolition of slavery was a separate issue that was addressed with the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, making it unrelated to the Indian Removal Act. Thus, the forced displacement of Native American tribes most accurately reflects a key consequence of that historical legislation.