This passage expresses some of the negative attitudes that English settlers had towards American Indians.
First, the quotes serve to highlight the fact that colonists did not feel particularly bad for the deaths of the natives, as they show no empathy towards them. They were most likely indifferent to the loss of culture and the disruption of family life that this caused as well.
Moreover, it shows that they knew the reasons why the Indians were dying (smallpox), but had no interest in taking any measures to prevent it.
Third, they show a sense of entitlement over the lands of the indigenous people. As most of them have died, and the population cannot defend itself, they have no problem in taking their land forcefully.
Finally, by comparing themselves to the Spanish, they also show awareness of the destruction and chaos that colonial powers have created in other places, and are thankful that they did not have to engage in a difficult war with the Native Americans.
The correct answer to this open question is the following,
In 1829, President Andrew Jackson offered to buy Texas from Mexico for $5 million. The Mexican government responded to President Jackson's offer to buy Texas with a negative. Mexican rulers did not agree.
The reaction of the Mexican government was to prohibit more American emigration to Texas. United States people and some Texans did not want to learn and assimilate the Mexican culture, did not want to convert into Catholicism, and never considered learning Spanish, the official language in México.
Texans did not consider themselves Americans, either Mexicans; they were Texans and were eager to form their own Republic.
Before, trains, cars, airplanes and trucks existed, rivers were used for travel. They carried people and goods. However, this way of transportation was very slow. All that changed with the arrival of the steamboat in the late 1700s and early 1800s. The steamboat could travel at the amazing speed of 5 miles per hour. It soon changed all over river travel and trade and dominated the waterways.
