The Battle of Tippecanoe

Tecumseh was the Chief of the Shawnee Nation. He rejected the individual treaties made by tribes that had ceded greater and greater amounts of land to the settlers. His claim was based on the belief that all the land belonged to the Indians, and not even the whole membership of a single tribe could alienate the property of a race. Tecumseh journeyed south to gain additional support for his alliance. While Tecumseh was away, General Harrison saw a good opportunity to attack. He camped with 1,000 men outside the village that acted as headquarters for Tecumseh and his brother (the medicine man known as "Prophet"). Harrison provoked the Indians to attack, and then decimated the village. The destruction of Tecumseh's headquarters disillusioned many of the supporters of Tecumseh, who had believed he and his brother had supernatural powers.