What's in a map? Reading the United "States"

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, State Names, 2000, oil, collage, and mixed media on canvas, 121.9 x 182.9 cm (Smithsonian American Art Museum)
A conversation with Dr. Anne Showalter, Digital Interpretation Specialist, Smithsonian American Art Museum, and Dr. Beth Harris.
This Seeing America video was made possible by a generous grant from the Terra Foundation and the Alice L. Walton Foundation

[@Sasha0927]

"Is it western expansion or eastern invasion?" 🔥🔥🔥
That was a mic-drop moment if I've ever seen one, lol. And this is one of the most impactful maps I've ever looked at.
Dr. Showalter makes a strong point at the end of the video, but it's a large task. What aspects of the past should I rethink? What thoughts would adequate and accurately reflect the past? What are the implications for the present? I have enough fun trying to discern the here for the now, much less turning mental gymnastics backward.. I'm just not sure where to start (or to what end), but it's certainly interesting to consider.

[@andrewmelville5560]

how does eastern invasion make sense? It's called western expansion because the United States was expanding westward they were not invading eastward.

[@smarthistory-art-history]

I believe it is about which perspective you are taking. If you are an Anglo/European settler you might call it westward, if you are indigenous, and for example, in the Great Lakes region, the invasion is from the east.

[@colorful3161]

it's because the from the native americans point of view the establisment of the 13 colonies and further western expansion was an eastern invasion because they were already there. hope that helped!