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George Cornell's avatar

Thanks TRC. I was thinking of invasions as an explanation/mitigation/justification of having to go to war. I didn’t see 1812 as qualifying in those respects. Actually it could be argued that 1812 was just another war of aggression/acquisition with America claiming the British were arming the Natives to thwart westward expansion of God- sanctioned land thieving and Native/buffalo massacring. It became a theme.

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

I see that theme. I also think the French and Indian War of the 1750s was essential in establishing the idea of "white settler superiority" forever in the minds of the colonists who would soon declare themselves independent of Great Britain. The French and Indian War (or Seven Years War as it's known in Europe) and the War of 1812 (The so-called "Second War of Independence") aren't taught enough in general history classes, IMO. Having been a re-enactor in that F& I period, it's rather sad how white Americans don't realize how their aggression against Native Americans began and for what reasons.

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