Lewis Cass attended Phillips Exeter Academy and studied law, beginning his practice in Zanesville. He held various leadership roles in the Freemasons and was elected to the Ohio House of Representatives. He served as the Governor of Michigan Territory, where he negotiated treaties with Native American tribes and led an expedition to map the northwestern part of Michigan Territory. Cass later became Secretary of War, playing a key role in the Indian Removal Act of 1830. He served as U.S. Minister to France and held multiple terms in the U.S. Senate, including a stint as Secretary of State.

Lewis Cass's political career is marked by his unwavering advocacy for territorial expansion and his controversial views on race and governance. His support for the Indian Removal Act, grounded in a belief in white superiority, reveals a deeply rooted racial ideology. Despite his involvement in slavery, Cass promoted popular sovereignty, a stance that allowed local populations to decide on the issue, creating a complex tension between his personal beliefs and his policy positions. His foreign policy actions, such as supporting American filibusters and intervening in Latin American affairs, further illustrate his aggressive expansionist agenda.