Essay - Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet Tenskwatawa 'The Prophet' and Tecumseh...

Tecumseh and the Shawnee Prophet

Tenskwatawa "The prophet" ***** Tecumseh

Tenskwatawa was born in 1778 at Old Piqua near present day Spr*****gfield, Ohio. His father was an important ***** chief. Lauliwasikau was one of eight children, and he protected his younger brother ***** and acted as ***** protector. Lauliwaskiau would eventually be known as Tenskwatawa.

In 1783, at the tre*****y of Paris, promises of the British were broken and they made no effort to protect Indian lands in Ohio. Tri*****smen had fought ***** this war but had ***** part in the treaty making. White frontiersmen started flocking to southern Ohio, only to be refused by the tribal leaders refusing ***** acknowledge ***** government's claims and oppose new settlements north ***** the river.

From 1784 - 1789 a few chiefs met with government officials and signed a series of questionable treaties taking away Indian control of l*****s in Southern and E*****tern *****, ***** most of the tribesmen denounced the agreements and continued *****ir raids on the farms ***** villages. The government then sent in armed expediti*****s but the ***** were too much for them and ***** them back.

In August of 1794 Major General "Madman Anthony" Wayne's legion defeated the mutitribal *****ces in the Battle ***** the Fallen Timbers, which resulted ***** ***** Treaty of Greensville ***** the Indians gave up their claims to most of Ohio. The ***** then expanded into northern Indiana and northwestern ***** but the red hunters were forced to compete with the growing number of whites who would cross over into Indian l*****s for wildlife. This denied the tribesmen of fresh meat and limited their ability to purchase needed commodities. The *****s relied on fur trading and after 1797 many warriors were hard pressed to provide ***** their families.

The American system was a h*****rdship for the Indians, any tribesmen trespassing on white property were c*****sidered fair game. Fur trading peaceful ***** were robbed and murdered by American citizens and the frontier court systems ***** acquit the culprits of such crimes. When the Indians complained of ***** injustice ***** pleas were ignored. They considered the murdering of Indians in the highest degree meritorious.

***** colonial period smallpox, measles, and influenza had spread ***** and down the Ohio valley taking its toll on ***** natives, making the disease ***** biggest killer of ***** rather than the guns of the *****. Tribesmen were unable to adjust which led to alcohol and depression and ***** would barter their pelts for jugs of whiskey and fight among **********.

By 1800 ***** Indians were willing to try the white mans ways. Late in 1801 a delegation of chiefs visited the East where Little Turtle and Five Meda***** asked ***** *****ficials for assistance, ***** the government was delighted with the request. During the next decade the federal government and religious organizations sent farming equipment, funds, and even agriculture experts to ***** tribes of Ohio ***** Indiana. But it produced minimal results because of poor management by unscrupulous Indian agents who would sell