Upon British settlement of the East in 1600, there were different receptions …show more content…
Having been influenced by his spiritual leader Neolin, he firmly believed that he could rally the neighboring Wyandot, Ojibwas, and Potawatamis to aid in expelling the white men from their homelands. Though he would die in his efforts, his confrontation and the Pennsylvanian’s response of the Paxton Boys would prompt Britain to declare the Proclamation of 1763. This clarified land ownership west of the Appalachian Mountains as belonging to the Natives. Though the law was established, it did not necessarily stop the colonists from encroaching on Indian lands. It did, however, for a time, turn attention away from acquisition of Native lands. Colonists became deeply concerned with Britain control over their actions, leading to the Revolutionary War.
After the end of the Revolutionary War, Little Turtle, chief of the Miami tribe in Ohio, again led a defense of native homeland in efforts to stop Americans from seizing their property. Beginning in 1785, the Miami had the upper hand with more men to fight, but lost their advantage by 1795. General Anthony Wayne had assembled a strong legion of 5,000 strong just south of Detroit against the 3,000 Shawnee, Ottawa, Potawatomi warriors and Canadian militias. The battle of Fallen Timbers was lost by Little Turtle; the Treaty of Greenville was signed in August 1795, surrendering all of modern day Ohio to the …show more content…
In a vision he’d had, dying and being visited by the Creator, he was instructed in how to handle the American presence in their lands. The Great good Spirit explained the tribes need to return to their roots, remove all aspects of European life and evidence of their presence. Women were to leave husbands and any mixed children. Alcohol was forbidden. He stressed the importance of returning to the use of sacred fires that travel with the tribe. “You must never let this sacred fire go out, for it is your reborn spirit, beginning now, and if it goes out, so will your life go out.” These were all losses not only of daily life, but also old tradition. It was easier to light a fire by flint, yes, but Tenskwatawa believed that in so doing they were losing a part of themselves and paying a deep price for dependence upon the white men: “We were fools to take all these things that weakened us. We did not need them then, but we believe we need them now. So now we depend upon the very people who destroy