"By these purchases the Indian title, with moderate reservations, has been extinguished to the whole of the land within the limits of the State of Ohio, and to a part of that in the Michigan Territory and of the State of Indiana"

This quote by James Monroe is describing the purchase of land from Native American people in the early 19th century. The land in concern lay in the states of Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. Monroe is stating that through these purchases, the Native American tribes have relinquished their rights to the land, with some minor exceptions. This means that the Native Americans no longer have any legal claim to the land, and it is now owned by the United States federal government. This quote is significant due to the fact that it marks a major shift in the relationship in between the United States and Native American people. It likewise highlights the importance of land ownership in the early 19th century, and the power of the United States government to acquire land from Native American tribes.