Tecumseh
R. David Edmunds story of Tecumseh affects our knowledge and understanding of Native American history during European expansionism in many ways. It shows Indian cooperation and European oppression in a different light. But, what made Edmunds write about Tecumseh? Did Edmunds need someone to write about so he just chose Tecumseh, or did he research the topic with Tecumseh in mind? The history of the conflict between Native Americans and European settlers is taught to high school, or even grade school, students in one way, that the Native Americans were a savage and barbaric people, out solely for American blood. Students were led to believe that in order to survive European settlers had to drive away and kill the Native Americans. According to Edmunds, this is not necessarily the way it was. Edmunds says that the Native Americans, more specifically the Shawnees, got along find with their white European neighbors. It was not until 1711 that the Shawnees began to have relation problems with their European neighbors: "The colony began to attract large numbers of Europeans fleeing religious oppression on the Continent...Mennonite settlers moved into the lower Susquehanna Valley in such numbers that the Shawnees were forced
This is why Edmunds wrote about Tecumseh, because in a time of great confusion and anger, he rose above the rest and tried to get something done. During the next two decades, similar intrusions occurred, and by the late 1730s most of the tribe had migrated west. No matter what beliefs were held by the Native Americans, the Americans had the treaty and were set on keeping the land. " (42) Not only was this not a very fair deal, but it was not agreed upon by all Native Americans who used the land. He explains how the Native Americans only wanted peace and security, but when that was not guaranteed they had to defend themselves and their way of life. His brother Lalawethika, also known as Tenskwatawa or the Prophet, brought many Native Americans from many different tribes together under one religious movement. This is when the Treaty of Greenville comes into effect; "In addition to agreeing to remain at peace and to relinquish all prisoners, the tribesman gave up their claims to lands in southern, central, and eastern Ohio. Edmunds specifically chose Tecumseh for a specific reason; otherwise the book would not be titled Tecumseh and the Quest for Indian Leadership. After the Battle of Fallen Timbers the Native Americans were scared and shaken, they would have done anything to save themselves from the wrath of the Americans. This is not to say he did not have help.
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Acceptance Essays
