[ItsTheMediaStupid]

Frankly, I don't think the tribes would be united, or even thoughtful, enough to have a reasoned political position such as you describe. I think that they took part against the federals through warrior passion, or from a sense of feeling invaded, than through a rational philosophy.

The Cherokees were called "the civilized Indian nation", probably the only Indian nation with a written language. Even in those days many, certainly the leaders, had at least a grade school education and could speak and write very good English. So yes they were very capable of a very coherent political viewpoint or philosophy.

[Mamzelle]

You are looking back with modern eyes and imposing 20th century notions on a very different time. There is no insult here, nor any intended.

[gopheraj]

Very true. In the 1700s, some of the chiefs went to England to talk to the king there. The Cherokees did not go around in hide thongs either. They wove their own cloth, built HOMES, farmed and owned livestock.