Unworthy Republic

Dense but compelling. (Most historical nonfiction puts me to sleep but this did not! It still took me a while to get through though.) I learned a lot about the period of indigenous expulsion in the 1830s formerly known to me as the Trail of Tears (though that was only a small part of it).

Most interesting to me was the way that the author was able to tie in the economic motivations of white colonists and planters, and the amount of research that went into putting dollars to the dispossession. I also had never been taught in school about the lengthy and egregious harrassment and occupation perpetuated against indigenous groups well before the “Indian removal act”, or that legislators framed the action as an act of paternalistic goodwill. It is frankly infuriating to read the primary source quotes that Saunt provides contrasted with the real experiences of Creeks, Chickasaws, Seminoles, and Cherokees (the groups on which this book focuses). I also appreciated the primary source quotes from Creek, Chickasaw, Cherokee, Seminole and other leaders and regular citizens, as their commentary is both biting and could probably still be quoted today without being out of context.

I think the thing that will most stick with me is that even though Saunt didn't always draw explicit connections between the murderous bureaucracy and political maneuvering of the 19th century and so similar happenings in modern US government, but it rang true for me throughout the book. Every time the Commissary Office decided to let private business get involved with the already heinous act of deportation, and the private business egregiously fucked over indigenous peoples, I wanted to bang my head against a wall. It's a tale as old as time, apparently.

I'd recommend this to anyone interested in learning more about indigenous resistance, economics, or state sanctioned and perpetuated misery in the name of paternalistic so-called “greater good”.