I think when looking at removal it’s important to look at it on a massive scale. It was almost like the United States announcing war on all Native Americans without officially stating it. It took a while to remove most of the indigenous population out of the East of America, but when looking at the overall period it feels like an attack just in a very subtle and intentional way. You could also say that the removal wasn’t just the removal of indigenous people from the lands, but it was also a removal of their homes and their ways of life since they were forced westward and into certain small-ranged areas. It’s also refreshing to realize that Westward expansion wasn’t as innocent and clean as I was taught growing up, I do realize that this notion was probably shown to me in the many pieces of art that romanticized westward expansion. I also think it’s important that I realize that the Louisiana Purchase from the French was a huge historical purchase and also a giant piece of land that was taken by indigenous groups to push groups together into a smaller area while also making lots of room for more incoming settlers. I also didn’t realize that the Louisiana Purchase was almost a way for America to expand slavery especially the slavery of African Americans. I feel like it’s more beneficial and crucial to think about westward expansion I also shouldn’t have been shocked when I learned that the stories about Lewis and Clark weren’t as accurate as I was told and how Sacagawea was more of a crucial figure in Lewis and Clark’s mission, but like many other historical native American figures her history was overshadowed. I think during the period of the fur trade Americans and native Americans on a political and policy level were at a sort of non-threatening almost peaceful time although it feels like once the government was set on expanding west their policies and federal views on Native Americans changed almost instantly. It feels like they had a hypocritical view of their policies toward Native Americans. All three of the major historical law cases of the American government vs native figures show that the government would either make laws, change some, or find certain loopholes to benefit themselves and also make “fair” decisions for native americans.