was a prominent Native American chief who fought against the establishment of the whites in the United states during the 18th-century. He is recognized as a great political leader under whom people found motivation and inspiration to war. He succumbed to death in the war in the year 1813 after which the strength of the Native Americans had all gone down and they were moved past the Mississippi River.
Background
was born in the year around 1868 near the region of Chillicothe in the south of Columbus. He was the son of a minor war chief named Puckeshinwa while his mother was Methoataske. was born amid the border warfare and his father was killed in the battled between the Indians and the French. His mother left him to be raised by his aunt Tecumpease and migrated to Missouri. He had three siblings named Cheeseekau, Tenskwatawa, and Tecumapese.
Education
There is no information on the formal education received by in his early years. Though as a teenager, he joined the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant in the association of the Native Americans. Right from the age of 15, joined the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant in the association of the Native Americans. Brant encouraged his troop members to fight against the whites from entering into Ohio.
Career
joined the Mohawk chief Joseph Brant in the association of the Native Americans. Brant encouraged his troop members to fight against the whites from entering into Ohio. led the raid and attacked the boats on which the whites were on trying to reach the place making the river inaccessible for a while. had to soon witness a horrifying battle between the Native Americans and the whites in which he saw a man being burnt alive.
In the year of 1791, led a party against U.S. General Arthur St. Clair under the headship of Shawnee chief Blue Jacket in the Battle of Wabash. Of the total of 1000 Americans, around 952 were killed in the fight. Three years later in the year 1794, attacked Major General Anthony Wayne at the Fort Recovery which was unsuccessful. His troop was defeated two months later at Fallen Timbers.
Embarrassed and angry at the defeat, refused to join any mutual agreement or negotiations with the Whites. He criticized the chiefs for giving away the lands of Native Americans and mentioned that it never belonged to the chiefs for giving away.
Around the year 1808, joined by few hundreds of men, traveled to Indiana and joined his brother named Tenskwatawa who had become a prophet to the Native Americans. Using his speech and people convincing skills, converted his brother’s religious preaching to a political movement and made all of the people to fight against the whites. For the same intention, he started hiring men from the southern United States and from the Northwest. He created his workplace headquartered at the Prophetstown.
In the year 1811, while was away in the south hiring people for his mission, Governor of Indiana William Henry Harrison led a force of around 1000 men to Prophetstown. The prophet was asked to meet Harrison. The prophet attacked Harrison’s camp and after the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Native Americans were defeated and their town burned by the Americans. When returned from his trip, he tried to reconstruct his settlement.
On the month of June in 1812, Great Britain was declared for attack by the US Congress. When was informed of another Native American tribe getting separated, he, along with his men moved to Michigan to support British Major General Sir Isaac Brock in Detroit. When Americans tried to attack British, along with his men moved in the manner which made them believe that the number of British men was too large then them. Fearing defeat, American commander Brigadier-General William Hull admitted defeat.
In the following year of 1813, joined British Major-General Henry Procter and led their armies towards Siege of Fort Meigs which was controlled by ’s arch-rival William Henry Harrison. When the army of Harrison defended, and Major-General Henry Procter had to escape through the Thames River further into Canada. The war took place and even though Procter had promised support, he never showed up and had to fight the army of 3000 men of Harrison in which he got himself killed. The day he succumbed to death was 5th of October, 1813. was 45 years of age then.
Till this day, it has not yet been clear how was killed. It is stated that his body was carried off from the war ground and given a burial with the unmarked grave. With the death of , the strength of the Native Americans had all gone down and they were moved past the Mississippi River. ’s bravery, courage, and the leadership skill were equally appreciated by his friends and enemies alike.
was a Native American chief who died in the battle against the whites. He is recognized as a great leader under whom people found motivation and inspiration to war. He had a great skill to make speeches which are identified when he converted his Prophet Brother’s religious speech into the political ground through his speeches. He was brave and courageous all through his life fighting against one motive.
In the remembrance of , a movie ‘Act of Valor’ was created which showcases his determination and courage.
Religion
There is no information on Tecumseh’s ideas on religion. Though in one his quotes made during a speech he mentioned ‘When Jesus Christ came upon the Earth, you killed Him. The son of your own God. And only after He was dead did you worship Him and start killing those who would not.’
Politics
Tecumseh proved himself to be a great political leader who could use his motivational speeches to convince people. Tecumseh traveled to Indiana and joined his brother named Tenskwatawa who had become a prophet to the Native Americans. Using his speech and people convincing skills, Tecumseh converted his brother’s religious preaching to a political movement and made all of the people to fight against the whites.
With the death of Tecumseh, the strength of the Native Americans had all gone down and they were moved past the Mississippi River. Tecumseh’s bravery, courage, and the leadership skill were equally appreciated by his friends and enemies alike.
Views
Tecumseh was a prominent Native American chief who fought against the establishment of the whites in the United states during the 18th-century. From the time he was a teenager; Tecumseh had just one mission in his heart and followed it wholeheartedly till the time of his death. He proved himself to be a great political leader and an inspiration to his men. Though there is a very limited detail of his personal life in the records, he was well appreciated for his great skills both by his friends and his enemies.
Quotations:
‘Brothers — My people wish for peace; the red men all wish for peace; but where the white people are, there is no peace for them, except it be in the bosom of our mother.’
‘Will we let ourselves be destroyed in our turn without a struggle, give up our homes, our country bequeathed to us by the Great Spirit, the graves of our dead and everything that is dear to us? I know you will cry with me, Never! NEVER!.’
‘The only way to stop this evil is for all the red men to unite in claiming an equal right in the land. That is how it was at first, and should be still, for the land never was divided, but was for the use of everyone. Any tribe could go to an empty land and make a home there. And if they left, another tribe could come there and make a home. No groups among us have a right to sell, even to one another, and surely not to outsiders who want all, and will not do with less. Sell a country! Why not sell the air, the clouds, and the Great Sea, as well as the earth? Did not the Great Good Spirit make them all for the use of his children?’
Personality
Tecumseh was a Native American chief who died in the battle against the whites. He is recognized as a great leader under whom people found motivation and inspiration to war. He had a great skill to make speeches which are identified when he converted his Prophet Brother’s religious speech into the political ground through his speeches. He was brave and courageous all through his life fighting against one motive. After his death, the strength of his men weakened and they were moved past the Mississippi River for the next twenty years.
Quotes from others about the person
“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart. Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours. Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life. Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.
When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way. Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.“ (From the movie ‘Act of Valor’)
Connections
Tecumseh never married in his lifetime and died as a bachelor. There are no informative records in this regard.