PTPI Blog

Question answered by Sarah Houston, Managing Director of Student Programs at PTPI.

6. At one point in the book, Major Ridge has a moment of introspection, asking himself:

“Have I come to this…from the place I began, from where my mother and father left me, from the going to water and the first stickball game, the hunts preceded by polite prayer, the killing of whites, the killing of Indians, even Cherokees, the thefts of slaves, the horse stealing? Have you, Major Ridge, grown into this different person, and are you growing, changing still? I scarcely know you.”

Do you think the sacrifices and struggles that Ridge and the Cherokees endured were worth the “progress” made to advance the Cherokee society?

I think some sort of sacrifice is always necessary for advancement; however, the loss the Cherokees endured was extreme.  In the book, Major Ridge was a key player who led the way to change with the Cherokees.  Responding to political pressures and white society, Ridge and the Cherokees tried to assimilate to American settler culture by changing their ways to be more Europeanized or “civilized.” They adopted western dress, education, type of government, religion, and other cultural aspects.  Ironically, these efforts ultimately didn’t matter and the Cherokees were still displaced by the “white man.” Due to their obsession over territory and gold, I don’t think there was anything they could have done to stop them.  Although the Cherokees ultimately sacrificed their land and many lives, their efforts at integration and attempts at trying to stop the tragic displacement of their people, will be remembered in history.

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.

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.