A review by donaldleitch
Unworthy Republic: The Dispossession of Native Americans and the Road to Indian Territory by Claudio Saunt

challenging informative sad medium-paced

5.0

Claudio Saunt has written a sad but engaging history of the relocation of indigenous persons from east of the Mississippi (United States) to west in the 1820s and 1830s. The book details the political measures to make relocation happen, culminating with a narrow vote in Congress and the election of Andrew Jackson as president. The repeated deprivations of food and health care experienced by the indigenous people, forced to march westward or travel by steamboat, are identified. Numerous public servants and government agents lied and misled the indigenous peoples who had no recourse to the courts for fair treatment as indigenous peoples could not give testimony or act against a white person. The greed of speculators and others was readily apparent. Unworthy Republic is a timely read in understanding the current relationship of indigenous peoples with governments today.