Tip: Do not access this cach by going through the Applecross neighborhood. If you do, you will be going through private property. I suggest you go through the woods behind Tecumseh. Even though this will make your journey tougher and longer, it will make the finish line all the more rewarding.
** For Parking, park in the Tecumseh school parking lot [if there is a spot.]
All throughout history, Native Americans have been mistreated. Their land has been taken away without their consent, and they have been forced to live on reservations. Here is a story of a Native American who tried to fight back.
The Story of Tecumseh
Born in 1778, Tecumseh was a member of the Shawnee tribe. Throughout Tecumseh's life, the Shawnee tribes had been forced to move and give up their land by the U.S. The Shawnee tribe had given up a total of 48 million acres of land to the U.S. The Shawnee tribe was sick and tired of giving their land to white man, and obeying their false treaties.
When Tecumseh reached hood, he became the chief of the Shawnee tribe. As chief of the Shawnee tribe, Tecumseh wanted to do something to change the way him and his fellow Native Americans were being treated by the white man. With the help of his brother Tenskawtawa,[The "Prophet"] he would unite all the mid-western Native tribes to create an army that could withstand the growing number of western settlers. As Tecumseh said, "It is easy to break one stick, but when there are many sticks that are bundled together, you cannot break them." Tenskawtawa [a preist] aroused the religious spirt in his fellow Americans, and told them to stop drinking and to belive in the Great Spirit who would lead them to victory against the white man. Tecumseh [a brave warrior] aroused the fighting spirit in his fellow Native American Tribes man, and rallied them to fight bravely to accomplish their goal of defeating the white man. Both Tecumseh and Tenskawtawa being gifted orators, united the mid-western tribes, and soon had a growing army that could resist the white mans all powerful armies.
While Tecumseh and his brother were building their army, General William Henry Harrison [the governor of the Indiana Territory] was occupying "Fort Harrison" due to the information that he had recieved about the "Growing Indian Army."
On November 6,1811, Harrison met with the Prophet [Tecumseh's brother]. There was an agreement made that nothing would be decided and no fighting would take place until the following day. However, Harrison told his men later that night to stay on guard and to sleep with their guns at their side.
At dusk of the next day, Tenskwatawa, against Tecumseh's orders, led a "surprise attack on Fort Harrison. The Prophet had told his men that the Great Spirt would make the white man's bullets bounce off their chests. Harrisons' men were ready, and the Prophet's assault ended in a y defeat. Taken place at Tippencanoe creek, the Battle later was called the Battle of Tippencanoe creek.
After the battle, the Prophet was nearly killed for his deceit, but was instead became and outcast of the Shawnee tribe for the rest of his life.
While the Battle of Tippencanoe had taken place, Tecumseh had been out "recruiting other mid-western tribes for his army. But when he reached his village he found that it had been burned. There was no hope and it was too risky to keep building an army to defend against the white man. His attempt to fight back had failed.
Tecumseh later served as a British Brigade officer in the War of 1812, and helped bring down the fall of Detroit. Tecumseh died at the Battle of the Thames.
William Henry Harrison [who had been the U.S. commander at the Battle of the Thames] later became the 9the president of the United states.
Tecumseh is still remembered today because of his brave act in creating and army against the U.S. and how his determination to help his people almost succeded.
**Dicussion/Debate**
There are lawsuits going on today that involve Native Americans wanting to take their land back. Native American's argue that their ancestors had their land taken away from them by the U.S. cruelly and unfairly. However, the land that was taken away by U.S. is now occupied by U.S. citzens, companies, businesses, etc.
Who should get the land?
Native American Side: The land righfully belongs to Native Americans, because it originally belonged to their ancestors who had it taken away unjustly.
U.S. citizen side: The land that "rightfully belongs" to the Native Americans was paid for by the U.S. government in the past. Even though the U.S. may have paid very little money to the Native Americans for the land, the Native Americans still bought it. You cannot change what your ancestors did in the past, so the land rightfully belongs to the U.S.