George w Quote by Ron Chernow
““A system which looks to the extinction of a race is too abhorrent for a Nation to indulge in,” Grant told Congress in his first annual message in December 1869. As with all his presidential addresses, he composed it himself. “I see no remedy for this except in placing all the Indians on large reservations, as rapidly as it can be done, and giving them absolute protection there.”26 This hopeful, idealistic path, paved with good intentions, had been touted by well-meaning presidents from George Washington to Abraham Lincoln. Grant saw absorption and assimilation as a benign, peaceful process, not one robbing Indians of their rightful culture. Whatever its shortcomings, Grant’s approach seemed to signal a remarkable advance over the ruthless methods adopted by some earlier administrations.””
About This Quote
Source Speech: First Annual Message, December 1869, United States President
Grant advocated relocating Native Americans to reservations for their protection, believing it humane.
In simple terms: He suggested reservations to protect Native Americans.
Key Takeaway
Consider humane policies for vulnerable groups.
Themes
policy
human rights
history
colonialism
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- modern refugee resettlement
- indigenous rights movements
- policy debates
Key Concepts
government
assimilation
protection
rights
Questions to Reflect On
- Is forced relocation ever truly protective?
- How can cultural preservation be balanced with safety?
A Different Perspective
Assumes relocation solves cultural loss, ignoring autonomy.
![“You can't really move forward until you look back. [From Remaking America panel discussion at George Washington University]” quote by Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/273/cornel-west-708_george-w_you-can-t-really-move-forward-until-you_37313.jpg)
