>SNIP
>
>>Genocide of the Indians? Killing yes, but was there a deliberate attempt to try to kill them all? Ordered by the government? I realize that the Indians have been dealt with in an unjustful way, but isn't calling it genocide a little bit too 'easy'?!
>
>I don't think calling the systematic removal of native americans genocide 'easy.' In fact, I think it forces this country to own up to exactly what happened instead of just referring to it as the colonization and westward growth of our nation. They went from an estimated population of 12 million in 1500 to barely 237,000 in 1900.
>
>You may find this interesting:
>http://hnn.us/articles/7302.html

In Canada we also tried forced assimilation of those who were left. We took their children, removed them from their homes to "schools" where they were forbidden to use their native language and wear native clothing, etc. I think parents weren't even allowed to visit.
A very sad chapter in our history. By all accounts things started out friendly but degenerated quickly... all on the white man's side.