>>The interpretation of natives as being savage scalpers, while not completely unwarranted, became much exaggerated necessarily to support the 'Manifest Destiny' beliefs of the 19th century.
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>It was unwarranted. Scalping was an invention of the invaders. Native Americans are called "Native Americans" for a reason.

You are correct Jos. Thanks. I meant the 'savage' part was not completely unwarranted. Not the scalping. The indiginous folks, of course, were just as human (i.e. sometime peaceful, sometimes aggressive) as the recent migrants to the 'New World' and some skirmishes would occur instigated by either. Although nothing like the revised attitudes held for Manifest Destiny efforts.