History Series: Chief Tecumseh & the War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a conflict between America and Canada (as a colony of Great Britain). This war was rooted in European disagreements and the Napoleonic Wars. The British interrupted American trade to Europe and raided their ships. America declared war against Great Britain in June of 1812, seeing Canada as an easy target for retaliation.
The war helped Canadian civilians gain a sense of national identity, but dissimilarly was a source of great suffering for their First Nation allies. Once Great Britain occupied the Province of Canada, they had broken trade agreements with these Indigenous People who lived there and began selling off their land. The Canadian settlers were still seen as the lesser of two evils, and various Indigenous tribes fought alongside Canada against the Americans. This war meant even more death and destruction for them. This was the end of their self-reliance, and soon they were outnumbered by settlers in their land.
Chief Tecumseh
The war created a common enemy, and united various Indigenous groups. One of the key Indigenous people who united and fought was Tecumseh, a Shawnee chief. Tecumseh had previous experience as a warrior, and a hatred for the Americans who seized his peoples’ land and killed his father.
Chief Tecumseh saw the British as a strategic ally. Tecumseh and others led both First Nations and British soldiers across the Detroit River from the Canadian town of Amherstburg, threatening the American supply line. Chief Tecumseh and some of his warriors ambushed a supply force, and few survived. After a second ambush on the American supply road, the British and Shawnee were forced to retreat. The American General Hull was shaken and had his men retreat from Sandwich (now Windsor, Ontario) back to Detroit. The two ambushes were a great victory for the First Nations people.
Often during the war, the Americans outnumbered the British & First Nations. In August of 1812, Tecumseh was wounded during another attack. It was an American victory but the Americans did not follow up, keeping a blockade against supply lines intact.
Tecumseh stood beside military leader Sir Isaac Brock when Brock demanded Detroit surrender to them. Fear of an attack was so great, General Hull conceded without a fight. The British essentially gained control of the area that August. Tecumseh received great admiration from Brock, not that he cared. Tecumseh’s main focus was uniting his people.
Tecumseh’s active participation in the War of 1812 continued to be crucial. He recruited more warriors, and was skilled at scrutinizing situations of war. Because of his talent and drive, there were successful counteracts on the Americans.
Tecumseh died from a gunshot in Moraviantown. Tecumseh had felt the presence of the Americans approaching; the British soldiers lined up with Tecumseh’s men. They were immediately hit and the British retreated. Tecumseh fought back despite being greatly outnumbered and was killed. Tecumseh’s body was later found mutilated.
His death meant the First Nations no longer had the leader they needed to unite the various tribes. No one else could match the effect he had not only on his own people, but on all sides of the war. When the Treaty of Ghent was signed to end the war in 1814, and peace was brought to Canada, this sadly did not include Indigenous People.
The contributions of Chief Tecumseh and those of other Indigenous leaders were vital to the war efforts. As Canadians, it is important to remember their role as we work to build a better future.