160. Native Nations vs Thomas Jefferson

- – The misconception that North America was "empty" before European settlers arrived is debunked; cities like Cahokia, with populations exceeding 10,000, existed long before Columbus, highlighting the complexity and longevity of Native American societies. – Thomas Jefferson and George Washington viewed Native American lands as prime for farming, leading to policies aimed at displacing Native peoples, reflecting a disregard for the sovereignty and established societies of Native nations. – The idea of "Manifest Destiny" evolved into a racist ideology by the 19th century, justifying the U.S. expansion at the expense of Native American lands and reflecting a belief in the inferiority of non-white people. – The narrative that Native Americans were completely decimated by European diseases is oversimplified. Many Native communities persisted through strategic alliances and adaptation, maintaining their cultural identities despite significant population declines. – Kathleen DuVal emphasizes that Native Americans had established nations with borders, governance, and urban centers. This contradicts the myth that they were nomadic and unsettled, which Europeans used to justify land seizure. – The use of the term "Native Nations" instead of "tribes" highlights the organized, sovereign entities that existed long before European contact and continue to exist today, with nearly 600 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. – Native American nations controlled almost all of North America even 300 years after European arrival, with significant resistance to American expansion through diplomacy and military action, like the defeat of U.S. armies by the Shawnee. – The collapse of urban centers like Cahokia was influenced by environmental changes like the Little Ice Age and possibly authoritarian leadership, leading to a return to more decentralized and egalitarian societies. – Early strategic alliances between Native American nations and European powers (e.g., Spanish and British) were crucial in resisting American settlers, as seen with the Spanish providing weapons to the Muskogee. – George Washington's land speculation and Jefferson's policies of forced relocation aimed to exploit Native lands for agricultural expansion, foreshadowing the forced removals like the Trail of Tears.