America was founded on the values of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Strangely, however, America too was built up on the back of slavery, exploitation of Native Americans, and the oppression of women. The discussion over liberty changes when we consider that America is not the embodiment of freedom itself– it is the embodiment of the paradox of liberty. The paradox of liberty, generally defined, is the idea that a nation forged for freedom was hypocritically allowing these systems of oppression. The likes of Jefferson may have said “all men are created equal,” but he didn’t live by that statement. Very often American political figures in the early era of America knew these things were wrong, but for selfish gain ignored that knowledge. As America grew, changed, and the second generation of Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John Calhoun came around, they rationalized the evil systems left around. Slavery went from a ‘necessary’ evil to a political debate. Native American exploitation went from something oft ignored as a concept to a heroic act, creating mythologized versions of Andrew Jackson, William Harrison, and the like.
Some could argue that Native Americans had the best chance for survival by latching onto one group, during a conflict, with the hopes of respect and better treatment. The Seven Years War saw groups oppressed by the British and French choose the opposing side of their oppressors, hoping to no longer be oppressed. The massive, and frankly surprising, victory of the British over the French (and in some ways Spanish) then prompted Pontiac’s Rebellion. While to European powers this was for hegemony, for Indigenous groups it was their very livelihood. The American Revolution that spawned also from the post-French-and-Indian-War economic and social structures, saw Indigenous groups side also based on the same ideas. Not life and liberty, survival. Groups siding with the Americans feared the British would treat them worse. Groups siding with the British often feared Americans would expand and envelop them and that the British would perhaps keep them in check. Groups refusing to pick a side had felt that they learned their lesson in dying for causes that only led to further suffering. All of these wars thrust Indigenous groups into the fray out of hope to defer mistreatment. No better is this seen with the War of 1812, which saw the groups supporting a British takeover for hopes of better treatment side with the British and groups hoping to get in the good graces of the American Government side with the Americans. As we know, neither side benefited at all. America won and continued the Manifest Destiny that would supercharge during the Jacksonian Era.