Tecumseh

5 Pages 1165 Words

The mixing of the Indian and European lifestyles influenced everyone’s lives. Throughout time one could see the two sides unit together as one and one could also see them collide with disastrous ends. The Indians and the white men would unit to make peaceful treaties. Then the treaty would get broken and the two groups would collide in battle. Even when the Europeans and the Indians finally agreed on a way they both could farm and hunt, it eventually turned out hurt the Indian’s way of life. The Europeans also affected the Indian’s culture in both positive and negative ways. David Edmunds explains and shows examples of how the two groups mixed in his book, Tecumseh and the Quest for Indian Leadership.
Europeans settled in North America, claiming land that was never theirs to claim. The British initially made a deal to protect the Indians, but dishonored the deal when a battle broke. During this battle, many Shawnee fled the battlegrounds to a British Fort where they were not allowed. They were hoping that the fort would give them protection. The trespassing Indians were taken as prisoners. On August 3rd, the Indians signed a treaty calling for them to remain at peace, relinquish all the prisoners, and give up the land in the southern, eastern, and central Ohio. In return the white men gave the Indians goods, valued from $5,000 to $10,000.
The Shawnees’ lives were simple and they were spiritual people. The role for of men and women were also very simple. The men were the hunters and warriors. While the women were used as the housekeepers, clothe makers, and kept the families close. In the spring and summer months the two main projects were to farm and to re-build the villages. During the fall and winter months the Shawnee hunted, which allowed them to feed their families. By the early 1800’s the Indian life became much more difficult. The white hunters wiped out most of the wildlife, forcing the Indians ...