Tecumseh and His Courageous Fight for the Shawnee Way of Life
Karen Elliott
Mrs. Mathis
English 2327.01
June 23, 2011
Tecumseh and His Courageous Fight for the Shawnee Way of Life The Native American Indians inhabited the land of America long before the colonist arrived. After the colonist’s arrival, tension between them and the Native American Indians eventually led to an outbreak of war in which innumerable Indians and colonists perished. The Americans would not allow Tecumseh, “Shooting Star” and the Shawnee to remain on their own land (Wikipedia 1). Tecumseh, a Native American Indian, wanted nothing more than to retain the Shawnee land, continue living their way of life and have peace. Tecumseh first experienced the perils of war when the Kentucky militia attacked and destroyed his Shawnee village forcing them to leave their land and head northwest. Once the tribe was settled, Tecumseh along with other tribal leaders began to pull together an intertribal resistance against the American colonist in the Northwest. After the attack by the Kentucky militia at the age of eighteen, Tecumseh became known as a brave and energetic warrior (Wikipedia 1). Although the Shawnee strove for peace, they were prepared to fight for the land they believed was rightfully theirs as Tecumseh argues, “Since my residence at Tippecanoe we have endeavored to level all distinctions – to destroy village chiefs, by whom all mischief is done. It is they who sell our lands to the Americans. Our object is to let our affairs be transacted by warriors” (Tecumseh 464-465). Early in his life Tecumseh saw his village attacked five times forcing them to move and leave behind their land and the loved ones who had perished (Wikipedia 3). As Tecumseh and the Shawnee tribe struggled to maintain a peaceful relationship with the colonist, their land was being stripped from them almost daily. The colonists continued attacking the tribe until they drove the tribe off the land (Wikipedia 1-3). In the “Speech of Tecumseh to Governor Harrison,” Tecumseh
Mrs. Mathis
English 2327.01
June 23, 2011
Tecumseh and His Courageous Fight for the Shawnee Way of Life The Native American Indians inhabited the land of America long before the colonist arrived. After the colonist’s arrival, tension between them and the Native American Indians eventually led to an outbreak of war in which innumerable Indians and colonists perished. The Americans would not allow Tecumseh, “Shooting Star” and the Shawnee to remain on their own land (Wikipedia 1). Tecumseh, a Native American Indian, wanted nothing more than to retain the Shawnee land, continue living their way of life and have peace. Tecumseh first experienced the perils of war when the Kentucky militia attacked and destroyed his Shawnee village forcing them to leave their land and head northwest. Once the tribe was settled, Tecumseh along with other tribal leaders began to pull together an intertribal resistance against the American colonist in the Northwest. After the attack by the Kentucky militia at the age of eighteen, Tecumseh became known as a brave and energetic warrior (Wikipedia 1). Although the Shawnee strove for peace, they were prepared to fight for the land they believed was rightfully theirs as Tecumseh argues, “Since my residence at Tippecanoe we have endeavored to level all distinctions – to destroy village chiefs, by whom all mischief is done. It is they who sell our lands to the Americans. Our object is to let our affairs be transacted by warriors” (Tecumseh 464-465). Early in his life Tecumseh saw his village attacked five times forcing them to move and leave behind their land and the loved ones who had perished (Wikipedia 3). As Tecumseh and the Shawnee tribe struggled to maintain a peaceful relationship with the colonist, their land was being stripped from them almost daily. The colonists continued attacking the tribe until they drove the tribe off the land (Wikipedia 1-3). In the “Speech of Tecumseh to Governor Harrison,” Tecumseh
Cited: Tecumseh. “Speech of Tecumseh to Governor Harrison.” The Bedford Anthology of American Literature. Susan Belasco and Linck C. Johnson. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2008. 464-465. Print. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. “Tecumseh.” 1 June 2011. Web. 22 June 2011.