What key concept did the Indian Removal Act challenge regarding American Indian sovereignty?

The Indian Removal Act fundamentally challenged the integrity of American Indian lands, as it authorized the forced removal of Native American tribes from their ancestral territories to designated areas west of the Mississippi River. This act disregarded existing treaties and agreements that recognized the land rights of these tribes, undermining their sovereignty and autonomy. By enforcing removal, the government prioritized westward expansion over the established rights of American Indians to their land, disregarding the principles of their ownership and the deep cultural and historical ties they had to those areas. This move signified a broader pattern of the U.S. government’s approach to Native American sovereignty, indicating a priority on exploitation and settlement rather than recognition and respect for tribal sovereignty and land rights.