[Jedi Master Pikachu]

The nation could have expanded without forcefully evicting Amerindians--whose lands were recognized by the government*--from their homes. In the case of the Cherokee, who lived in what is now the southeastern United States, they lived side by side with other Americans for over a century before they were removed. The borders of the country were far to the west of their territory.

*This is the big point that trying to make: what is particularly bad is not soooo much that the government decided to ethnically cleanse these people and move them to cruddy land, but that the government broke its treaties and agreements. Legally, the government broke the law. That is the primary point why these things about Amerindians being chased off their land is so bad, although the unethical/immoral part is bad, too.

[AuntB]

“Legally, the government broke the law. That is the primary point why these things about Amerindians being chased off their land is so bad, “

Oh, you nailed that one!

[Names Ash Housewares]

Perhaps so.
But I doubt that kind of thinking was prevalent anywhere in the world at the time.

It is easy to cast judgment looking back with modern ethics.

We have changed since then. All of us.

Let us not forget that native Americans were also quite capable themselves of atrocities to other indians.