Tecumseh. Tecumseh. This article is provided courtesy of History.com

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1 Tecumseh Tecumseh This article is provided courtesy of History.com Shawnee Indian political leader and war chief Tecumseh ( ) came of age amid the border warfare that ravaged the Ohio Valley in the late 18th century. He took part in a series of raids of Kentucky and Tennessee frontier settlements in the 1780s, and emerged as a prominent chief by Tecumseh transformed his brother s religious following into a political movement, leading to the foundation of the Prophetstown settlement in After Prophetstown was destroyed during the Battle of Tippecanoe, the Shawnee chief fought with pro British forces in the War of 1812 until his death in the Battle of the Thames. Born at Old Piqua, on the Mad River in western Ohio, Tecumseh grew to manhood amid the border warfare that ravaged the Ohio Valley during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. In 1774, his father, Puckeshinwa, was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant, and in 1779 his mother, Methoataske, accompanied those Shawnees who migrated to Missouri. Raised by an older sister, Tecumpease, he accompanied an older brother, Chiksika, on a series of raids against frontier settlements in Kentucky and Tennessee in the late 1780s. He did not participate in the defeat of Gen. Josiah Harmar (1790), but led a scouting party that monitored Gen. Arthur St. Clair s advance (1791) and fought at Fort Recovery and Fallen Timbers (1794). Embittered by the Indian defeat, he did not attend the subsequent negotiations and refused to sign the Treaty of Greenville (1795). By 1800 Tecumseh had emerged as a prominent war chief. He led a band of militant, younger warriors and their families located at a village on the White River in east central Indiana. There in 1805 Lalawethika, one of Tecumseh s younger brothers, experienced a series of visions that transformed him into a prominent religious leader. Taking the name Tenskwatawa, or The

2 Open Door, the new Shawnee Prophet began to preach a nativistic revitalization that seemed to offer the Indians a religious deliverance from their problems. 1 rights reserved. Article: Copyright 2009 History.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission ReadWorks, Inc. All Tecumseh Tecumseh seemed reluctant to accept his brother s teachings until June 16, 1806, when the Prophet accurately predicted an eclipse of the sun, and Indians from throughout the Midwest flocked to the Shawnee village at Greenville, Ohio. Tecumseh slowly transformed his brother s religious following into a political movement. In 1808 Tecumseh and the Prophet moved their village to the juncture of the Tippecanoe and Wabash rivers, where the new settlement, Prophetstown, continued to attract Indians. After the loss of much Indian land at the Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809), Tecumseh gradually eclipsed his brother as the primary leader of the movement. He traveled throughout the Midwest urging tribes to form a political confederacy to prevent any further erosion of their lands. In November 1811, while Tecumseh was in the South attempting to recruit the Creeks into his confederacy, U.S. forces marched against Prophetstown. In the subsequent Battle of the Tippecanoe they defeated the Prophet, burned the settlement, and destroyed the Indians food supplies. After returning from the South Tecumseh tried to rebuild his shattered confederacy. But when the War of 1812 broke out, he withdrew to Michigan where he assisted the British in the capture of Detroit and led pro British Indians in subsequent actions in southern Michigan (Monguagon) and northern Ohio (Fort Meigs). When William Henry Harrison invaded Upper Canada, Tecumseh reluctantly accompanied the British retreat. He was killed by American forces at the Battle of the Thames on October 5, Tecumseh s political leadership, oratory, humanitarianism, and personal bravery attracted the attention of friends and foes. He was much admired by both the British and the Americans. After his death (his body was never recovered), a considerable mythology developed about him, and he has become an American folk hero. The Reader s Companion to American History. Eric Foner and John A. Garraty, Editors. Copyright 1991 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

3 2 rights reserved ReadWorksArticle: Copyright 2009 History.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission., Inc. All

4 Name: Date: 1. Who was Tecumseh? A a prophet who experienced a series of visions B a British general who led pro-british Indians C an American general who invaded Upper Canada D a Shawnee Indian political leader and war chief 2. What sequence of events does the text describe? A the sequence of events in the history of Detroit B the sequence of events in the history of Tennessee C the sequence of events in the life of Tecumseh D the sequence of events in the life of William Henry Harrison 3. One of Tecumseh's goals was to stop the loss of Indian land. What evidence in the text supports this conclusion? A Tecumseh grew to manhood amid the border warfare that ravaged the Ohio Valley during the last quarter of the eighteenth century. B Tecumseh seemed reluctant to accept his brother s teachings until June 16, 1806, when the Prophet accurately predicted an eclipse of the sun. C Tecumseh traveled throughout the Midwest urging tribes to form a political confederacy to prevent any further erosion of their lands. D After Tecumseh's death, a considerable mythology developed about him, and he has become an American folk hero. 4. Read these sentences from the text. After returning from the South Tecumseh tried to rebuild his shattered confederacy. But when the War of 1812 broke out, he withdrew to Michigan where he assisted the British in the capture of Detroit and led pro-british Indians in subsequent actions in southern Michigan (Monguagon) and northern Ohio (Fort Meigs). When William Henry Harrison invaded Upper Canada, Tecumseh reluctantly accompanied the British retreat. He was killed by American forces at the Battle of the Thames on October 5, Based on this evidence, who was fighting whom in the War of 1812? 1

5 A Americans and Canadians were fighting the British. B Americans were fighting the British and pro-british Indians. C Americans and the British were fighting Shawnee Indians. D Americans and Shawnee Indians were fighting the British. 5. What is the main idea of this text? A Tecumseh was an Indian leader who fought against U.S. settlement of Indian land. B In 1774, Tecumseh's father, Puckeshinwa, was killed at the Battle of Point Pleasant. C One of Tecumseh s brothers experienced a series of visions that transformed him into a religious leader. D Tecumseh fought alongside pro-british forces in the War of 1812 until his death in the Battle of the Thames. 6. Read these sentences from the text. There in 1805 Lalawethika, one of Tecumseh s younger brothers, experienced a series of visions that transformed him into a prominent religious leader. Taking the name Tenskwatawa, or The Open Door, the new Shawnee Prophet began to preach a nativistic revitalization that seemed to offer the Indians a religious deliverance from their problems. Tecumseh seemed reluctant to accept his brother s teachings until June 16, 1806, when the Prophet accurately predicted an eclipse of the sun, and Indians from throughout the Midwest flocked to the Shawnee village at Greenville, Ohio. What does the word "prophet" mean here? A a religious person who can see the future B a person who travels a long distance C a young man who threatens the people around him D a political leader who does not trust religious groups 7. Choose the answer that best completes the sentence. Tenskwatawa was a religious leader. Tecumseh,, was a political leader. 2

6 A earlier B therefore C for instance D on the other hand 8. What did Tecumseh transform his brother s religious following into? 9. What was Tecumseh s confederacy? 10. Evaluate the effectiveness of Tecumseh s political leadership. Support your answer with evidence from the text. 3

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