Tecumseh was a native of Ohio, in 1768. His father Pucksinwah was minor Shawnee warchief. His mother Methotaske also was Shawnee. Tecumseh was born during the height of French and Indian War. His father, Pucksinwah, was killed in the Battle of Point Pleasant in Lord Dunmore’s War. This had a lasting influence on Tecumseh. His father was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant during Lord Dunmore’s War. Tecumseh promised to fight like his father. He joined the American Indian Confederacy, led by Mohawk Chief Joseph Brant, as a teenager. Brant encouraged tribes and other groups to share their territories and to pool their resources to defend it against potential settlers. Tecumseh led the raiders that attacked American boats as they tried to cross the Ohio River. These raids proved to be extremely successful and almost blocked river access to the territory.
He was also a victor at the Battle of the Wabash in 1791, where he defeated General Arthur St. Clair’s army. Tecumseh fought as Little Turtle and Blue Jacket. The American Indian Confederacy defeated St. Clair’s army by killing 940 American soldiers. St. Clair was forced from office. Tecumseh fought in 1794 at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. The American Indian Confederacy suffered a crushing defeat in this decisive battle against General Anthony Wayne and the American forces. A small contingent consisting of about 240 remained with Tecumseh during the battle and followed him to Prophetstown, where they established a new pan Indian alliance. Tecumseh was assisted by Tenskwatawa the prophet, his younger brother. He was able to see the Shawnee Indians prime divine telling him that the Indians should give up all white customs. The prime god of life had been offended by the Indians for abandoning their traditional ways. They would be rewarded if they restored their native practices and drove out the whites. Many Shawnees listened to the message and joined Tecumseh’s brother and returned to their Indian traditions and customs. William Harrison, the governor of Indian territory, led an army into Prophetstown in 1811. There, an increasing number Indians congregated. Tecumseh began to recruit Indian friends and left his brother’s orders not to attack Americans. The Shawnees God saw the Prophet again and told him that he would send his warriors against America, contrary what Tecumseh had requested. Even the Master in Life said to the Prophet that American soldiers could not shoot at Indians. Thus, the battle for Tippecanoe began. The Americans escalated their persecution of the prophet, his followers, and Prophetstown was razed to the ground. This defeat was a huge setback for Tecumseh, who had struggled to persuade tribes against the Americans. Tecumseh was joined by his remaining followers during the American defeat in the War of 1812. Tecumseh believed that the British and Indians would get along, and that their land would be returned to them. Canada, 1813 saw the start of the greatest battle. Tecumseh began to lose trust in the British because he didn’t agree with Henry Procter as their commander over warring tactics. Procter didn’t support war between his territory, America. Procter would rather withdraw to the North than fight. Tecumseh wanted to fight the Americans and end their military might. Tecumseh could not stop the worrying trend of American forces encroaching on the northern territories. Proctor agreed to allow him to join his armies in Ontario to prevent the American insurgents occupying more Shawnees territory. Procter refused to honor the deal, leaving Tecumseh alone to fight despite multiple pleas for assistance.
The American forces defeated the British and Native American forces in the battle for Moravian Town, October 1813. Tecumseh died in the encounter, known as “The Battle of Thames”. Harrison won the surrender of most of his tribesmen.
