• What would be one of the greatest problems with having separate Indian nations on your frontier?

Indians Attacking in the War of 1812

Tecumseh

• Tried to create an Indian Confederacy to expel the US from the Ohio Territory– While gone, his army was beat by the US at

Tippacanoe – Gen. William Henry Harrison

• Allied with Briton for the War of 1812– Recreated the Confederacy– Gathering support against USA

Tecumseh

• Used similar methods as the Europeans – Large picture war as opposed to individual problems

• Brother was a prophet who started the Confederate movement– Had visions of a great unified Indian Nation

The Fort Dearborn Massacre

• Fort Dearborn built in 1803 at the important portage of the Chicago River

• Small trading operations set up around fort• John Kinzie – First permanent settler in Chicago– Typical sketchy Chicago businessman • Killed rival businessman

The Fort Dearborn Massacre

Start of the War of 1812

• Great Britain was impressing American sailors at sea.– Little known British law

• U.S. declares war June 18,1812.• President James Madison

The War of 1812

• The new commander of Ft. Dearborn was Capt. Nathan Heald.

• Indians who prefer British control start to gather at Fort Dearborn

• Heald is ordered to abandon the fort by Gen. William Hull.• Leave all supplies to the Indians

Relief

• Support arrived from Fort Wayne, IN., led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells.

• Son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miamis

Wells

Captain William Wells

• Captured and raised by Miami Indians

• Previously wounded in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794.– Was an American

scout

Little Turtle

The Massacre

• Heald destroyed everything that was not needed.– Breaking his agreement with the surrounding Indians

• They had traveled 1½ miles before the Indians attacked– More than 55 whites were killed • 26 regulars• All 12 militia men

– Heald & his wife were eventually able to escape.

• August 15, 1812

Rebekah’s Ordeal

• Her uncle William Wells rode ahead, turned, and circled his hat.– She interpreted this to mean they were

surrounded.• His horse was shot falling on top of him– Shot and scalped

• Heart cut out and rubbed in Rebekah’s face.

Rebekah Heald

• The wife of Captain Nathan Heald.

• Shot 6 times • She was captured and

eventually escaped.

Eleanor’s Life

• Prominent trader in • Captured at 9 by Seminole Indians• Ransomed at age 13• Married at 14 and widowed at 24 with 3

children & another on the way.• Married John Kinzie & lived in the former

house of DuSable.

Kinzie’s Escape

• John & Eleanor with their family escape the massacre by going up the Chicago River.

Juliette Gordon Low

• The Great Granddaughter of John & Eleanor (Lytle) Kinzie

• She preferred to be called, “Daisy”

• Founded the Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912.

In the End

• Illinois militia is mustered and destroys Kickapoo villages near Springfield– Militia becomes a mob and is forced to return home

• Tecumseh fought with the British in Northern America, but was killed in battle in 1813

• Was the last major threat to American settlement east of the Mississippi

Weekend Assignment

• Write a 5 paragraph essay on the topic, “Was it necessary to remove the Indian tribes east of the Mississippi? Use at least 5 examples from history (lectures or book) as evidence.