"They weren't immigrating to some existing society; indeed, they often did whatever they could do to destroy whatever existed here in the way of Indian society"

This quote by Samuel P. Huntington is describing the European inhabitants who got here in the Americas in the 16th and 17th centuries. Huntington is suggesting that the Europeans were not wanting to integrate into the existing Native American societies, but instead looked for to change them. The Europeans did whatever they could to destroy the existing Indian societies, consisting of taking their land, introducing illness, and participating in warfare. This quote highlights the damaging nature of colonialism and the destructive effect it had on the Native American population. It likewise works as a pointer of the significance of respecting and preserving the cultures of native peoples.