I have, out of both personal interest and a desire for greater and better research for my Old World Show history episodes, been reading a great deal about colonization as of late.
One lesson that I think has special relevance for Americans, particularly those in “the bad things map” area of the country, stood out across those works: whatever the era, whatever the ideology of the politicians in charge, those domestic politicians never understand the situation and have a terrible tendency to side against vengeful settlers and with savage natives out of a deluded belief in their humanity. They think the myth of the noble savage real, and apply it to policy.