PTPI Blog

Question answered by Paige Leitnaker, Director of the School & Classroom Program at PTPI.

5. On page 220, author John Ehle quotes then U.S. President-Elect, Andrew Jackson, saying “Build a fire under them. When it gets hot enough, they’ll move.” What is your reaction to this quote and U.S. President Andrew Jackson’s involvement with the relocation of many American Indian tribes?

I was really stunned by this quote. It is hard to believe that a U.S. President was so vengeful and land-hungry. I think the surprise stems from the fact that we are taught to respect and hold Presidents in esteem from a very young age – this notion is probably universal. The most surprising part to me is that, as a young country, the U.S. was not trying to hide its interest in relocating the many American Indian tribes trying to hold onto their land and cultures. In fact, the actual bill passed was called the Indian Removal Act of 1830 – and there is nothing concealed about that! It is hard to imagine this kind of behavior; however, one only needs to look at history and present day conflicts to see that this belief in one ethnicity having more rights over land than another has been prevalent and continues today.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.

Question answered by Paige Leitnaker, Director of the School & Classroom Program at PTPI.

2. In the Cherokee communities, marriages began and ended simply, a Cherokee woman had more rights and power than European women and marriages were allowed across racial barriers. Today these are becoming cultural norms around the world. Were the Cherokee ahead of their time or has our society today regressed?

The Cherokee Nation has been recognized as one of the most progressive among American Indian tribes, in more ways than those listed above. As for women’s rights and marriage laws, I believe they were ahead of their time. Like the tale this book tells, the European immigrants came to the U.S. and believed the American Indians were lesser beings who needed to move west so they may take their land. Since then we have realized what a heinous crime this was.

Like this, I believe the rights given to women by the Cherokee were progressive, and though seemingly savage at the time, we have come to adopt many of these cultural norms, learning once again from our past. Not all traditions and beliefs need to remain the same when knowledge shows us otherwise.

The opinions expressed by PTPI staff and other book club members are entirely their own and are not necessarily the views of  People to People International or that of PTPI’s Officers, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.