What in the world were we thinking when we stole the land from the Indians?

Question

Because Americans are just a bunch of bulles.

Answer 1

You thought we were a bunch of savages....i suppose.

Answer 2

The history of all humankind has witnessed rule by one bully after another. Can you name one group of people who DIDN'T take their land from someone else? And please don't tell me, "the Indians never bullied people," because they fought many wars themselves over the land. No society in existence has ever been successful without some blood on their hands. Oh, it might have occured way back in thier history, but there was blood at some point (and they have since forgotten or rationalized their actions). And whoever loses will always believe that they were victims. That's the way things work.

This is not to justify what was done to Native Americans. But it is only because we have become a bit more enlightened--or, at least, idealistic--that the question is even asked. Now, use your finely tuned moral compass to point a new course for the world. If you can find a way to achieve global enlightenment, I'll be the first to follow you.

Answer 3

America had nothing to do with bullying the indians off there land, they were english settlers and even when america was founded they were still first generation europeans, and do you think it would have never happened any, a few thousand indians occupied a 1/3 of the world land mass with no technology or anything, at that point and time a nations independence from colonial rule was dictated by its ability to defend itself, look at the mass of british, french, spanish colonial conquests in the era, all over africa, asia, south america and america, the american indians werent the only one spared because they were still a hunter gather culture, australian aboriginals can claim the same thing as american indians, sad but it had nothing to do with america as you know it today, its was colonial european rule that dictated this type of control over indians, and do you think that the apache indians or the aboriginals were in any way kind or willing to negotiate. I know its harsh but fact sorry bud!

Answer 4

Not to excuse it, but up to that point of time that is how the world worked; very few of the tribes that our ancestors pushed out had been there for very long themselves, after pushing other people from the land before them.

While it definitely was not a nice thing to do, the modern disdain for the US over this history is stupid since the entire world was acting like this at the same time.

Also, I don't know about you, but I wasn't there so I am not at fault for those actions (actually very few of my ancestors were even in the country yet).

Answer 5

They weren't thinking it was the Greed. that blinded them. However the Indians were the best at living off the land. They almost did not make when they were put in places that people weren't ment to live in, so they were sent back. Now a days they are living off the land as before and better at it. They have Casinos and they are making money. What goes around comes around

Answer 6

well, i will say just about all human civilizations have engaged in some sort of warfare, it's not like it was just the europeans.

there were a number of reasons why people wanted to come here, here are some:

spread Christianity

find gold

personal glory

trade with the natives

there was massive unemployment in england after the enclosure movement, and the "new world" seemed like an outlet to them

the europeans thought of the natives as decadent beings (some even thought of them as children of satan). this gave them an excuse to kill them (although it was a poor justification)

religious freedom. this was not long after the reformation, and the catholic vs. protestant debate was violently reverberating throughout the continent

Answer 7

The World Wasn't Thinking - - - The World was more concerned with their own problems and the Americas promised to provide riches at the expense of the Natives. Most of the World Justified matters by loudly procliaming, "AT least we brought them Christ," and most Evangelicals will tell you that a Dead Indian accepting Christ is better than an entire civillization of heathens.

Peace

Answer 8

We were probably thinking, "gee this is a pretty good deal."
Regards.

P.S. Do not attempt to reconcile the thinking of 18th to 19th century mankind with the "political correctness" of 21st century points of view.

Answer 9

Answering your own question? How many points did you spend to do that?

But you're right. My American forebears thought they had a divine right to take an entire continent from its aboriginal inhabitants. But don't forget, the Canadians did the same thing.

Answer 10

Greed.

Answer 11

When the British did it, they called it "the white man's burden."
When the Germans did it, they called it "Lebensraum."
When the Americans did it, they called it "Manifest Destiny."

You could look it up.