In Henry Knox's letter to President Washington in 1789, "the first of which is by raising an army, and [destroying the resisting] tribes entirely or 2ndly by forming treaties of peace with them", "under the existing circumstances of affairs, the United States have a clear right, consistently with the principles of justice and the laws of nature, to proceed to the destruction or expulsion of the savages," the use of the word savages shows that Americans had irreverence toward the Indians" ethnic backgrounds
Henry Knox wanted to destroy the Cherokee tribes in order to gain land for the United States, although he questions the morality of whether to acquire the Cherokee land, his conclusion forebodes the appropriation. .
"That the Cherokee Nation may be led to a greater degree of civilization, and to become herdsmen and cultivators, instead of remaining in a state of hunters, the United States will from time to time gratuitously the said nation with useful implements of husbandry," the statement made by Henry Knox, shows an ethnocentric view toward the Indians. Knox viewed them as savages, and said that the role of the United States is to propagate their evolution into herdsmen and cultivators instead of hunters. What Knox did not realize was that he was attempting to change the culture of the Cherokee Indians, and that would be a violation upon their sovereignty. .
According to "Amicable Settlement of Limits with the state of Georgia", "[In exchange for Georgia's cession of claims to certain western lands] . . . the United States shall, at their own Expense, [obtain for] the Use of Georgia, as early as the same can be peaceably obtained on reasonable terms, the Indian Title . . . to all the other Lands within the State of Georgia." The statement above, explains how the United States is being greedy in expanding the State of Georgia into Cherokee lands. Manifest Destiny and disrespect toward the Cherokee Indians can be explained by this.
