The Tecumseh And The Civil Rights Movement
Tecumseh, a Shawnee Indian born in 1768, rose to be one of the greatest Native American leaders of all time. During the late 18th century, for the most part, the Indian population in North America did not have a voice when it came to the English settlement. However, Tecumseh soon became their voice. Issues of land arose after the American Revolution. Throughout the American Revolution, the Shawnees fought alongside Britain in hopes to defend their homeland. Britain’s eventual surrender led to the Treaty of Paris in 1793. The Treaty concluded that Britain would cede all land west of the Appalachians to the new American Republic without any representation of the Native Americans in attendance. The loss of land meant the loss of lives to the Indians.
Tecumseh saw the need for a universal leader and he took it. Tecumseh was able to break the boundaries between tribes. His persuasive character led the Native American tribes of North America to come together in an alliance against the Americans. With most of the Indian population behind him, he hoped to orchestrate the largest Pan-Indian resistance ever mounted in the North American continent. In the end, Tecumseh was unsuccessful. The War of 1812 was the last chance the Indians had to reclaim their land with the help of the British. However, Britain ended up abandoning their Indian alliances entirely and left them to fend for themselves resulting in the eventual death of Tecumseh. His death made it clear that there was no place in the land ceded by the Americans for the Indians. Tecumseh represented Native American pride and their sense of identity. As the Americans moved in on their land many Indians were tempted to conform to the “white way of life”, but Tecumseh convinced the Natives that they must not give up on their culture and traditions. Tecumseh refused to surrender on the battlefield or sign any treaties proving that their way of life was more important than living in a society in which they must change their traditional way of life.
Tecumseh saw the need for a universal leader and he took it. Tecumseh was able to break the boundaries between tribes. His persuasive character led the Native American tribes of North America to come together in an alliance against the Americans. With most of the Indian population behind him, he hoped to orchestrate the largest Pan-Indian resistance ever mounted in the North American continent. In the end, Tecumseh was unsuccessful. The War of 1812 was the last chance the Indians had to reclaim their land with the help of the British. However, Britain ended up abandoning their Indian alliances entirely and left them to fend for themselves resulting in the eventual death of Tecumseh. His death made it clear that there was no place in the land ceded by the Americans for the Indians. Tecumseh represented Native American pride and their sense of identity. As the Americans moved in on their land many Indians were tempted to conform to the “white way of life”, but Tecumseh convinced the Natives that they must not give up on their culture and traditions. Tecumseh refused to surrender on the battlefield or sign any treaties proving that their way of life was more important than living in a society in which they must change their traditional way of life.