Question

But the offer of a few such paltry articles as a brass kettle, a few pounds of tobacco [etc.] is too insignificant to be thought of, as an inducement for us to abandon our cultivated possessions, and join our wilder brethren in the west. It is too late to think we can be so much allured by soft words and smooth promises as to sell our birth- right for a few dried leaves of a noxious weed. Those who may entertain an opinion of our speedy removal, and that too to be effected by such trifling inducements as above, will be lost in the labyrinth of their speculations; and ere long the splendid mansions which their imaginations have builded [built] upon the plains of Look Out and Coosa will vanish before reality, like darkness before the rising sun. 1961 -"Indian Emigration, Cherokee Phoenix, 1828​

Answer 1

The texts highlight the historical challenges faced by the Cherokee and other Native American communities during the U.S. government's expansion in the 19th century. They reveal attempts of assimilation, strategic pressure by trade debts to cede lands, and the ultimate defense of their autonomy despite facing forceful relocation tactics.

Step-by-step explanation:

The excerpts presented chronicle the challenges faced by Native Americans, particularly the Cherokee nation, during the early 19th century in the United States. This period was marked by the aggressive expansionist policies of the U.S. government, aimed at acquiring lands inhabited by indigenous communities. The rhetorical excerpt from the Cherokee Phoenix of 1828 underscores the Cherokee's objection to giving up their cultivated lands for what they considered to be paltry compensations, expressing their determination to resist relocation and maintain their sovereignty and rights.

Another passage describes the strategic intent of the U.S. to push Native Americans into debt through trade, thereby pressuring them to cede lands. This underscores the systemic approaches taken by the government to displace indigenous populations and facilitate white settlement. Additionally, the selections highlight the ironies of the era; despite considerable adaptation by the Cherokee to European-American ways of life, they still faced prejudice and dismissal of their rights.

Throughout this context, the Cherokee and other tribes grappled with challenges to their autonomy, culture, and lands, which culminated in forced migrations such as the infamous Trail of Tears. The narratives speak to the larger themes of colonialism, cultural assimilation, and resistance among Native American communities.