November 7: Battle of Tippecanoe (1811)
Prayer Idea
Pray for the Shawnee people.
History Note
The Shawnee people historically lived in the Ohio River valley, though members lived in other parts of North America at various times. They had conflict with other Native nations and with American settlers moving west.
Two Shawnee brothers, Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa, drew together an alliance of several Native nations to fight the Americans. William Henry Harrison led a military force into Shawnee territory. Tenskwatawa attacked Harrison’s army on November 7. The Americans gained victory in the battle. This is known as the Battle of Tippecanoe.
Tenskwatawa, Tecumseh, and other Shawnee moved to Canada, where they sided with the British during the War of 1812. Tecumseh died in the Battle of the Thames (also known as the Battle of Moraviantown) in Ontario in 1813.
In 1825 Tenskwatawa returned to the United States. Under continued pressure from the U.S. government, he helped many of the Shawnee people relocate west of the Mississippi River. Tenskwatawa died in 1836.
William Henry Harrison’s military success eventually led to his election as president in 1840. John Tyler was his running mate for vice president, and one of their campaign slogans was “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too.”
Today there are three federally recognized Shawnee nations: the Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, and the Shawnee Tribe. The state of Alabama also recognizes the Piqua Shawnee.
Portrait of Tenskwatawa by Charles Bird King (c. 1820)
Learn More
This 2024 video shows footage from the opening in Ohio of Great Council State Park, which honors the history and culture of the Shawnee people.
Find more resources at Homeschool History.
