Why Is Tecumseh An Important Leader

History has been marked with a wide variety of influential leaders. Commonly revered leaders were considered influential by standards of heroism, presence, public opinion or positions of stature. Overall most leaders have some of the same qualities in common, despite what they became to be known for. To be truly influential, a leader had to set themselves apart during times of strife and no matter the setting or time they lived in, their actions would be remembered for years to come. One such leader in history was a Native American of modest means, that was raised in a trivial time in our countries history. This motivated and courageous leader was named Tecumseh. His story has been forever sealed in literature and American history. Even

During Tecumseh’s early years, he was brought up being conditioned to war, beginning with his father being killed during the Battle of Point Pleasant in 1774. It was this loss that would fuel his need to fight for Native Americans and to rid their lands of Americans set to destroy them. It was during the Northwest Indian War and the American Revolutionary War that he received his exposure to war against a perceived foreign occupier. It was 1783 when Tecumseh reached the age of 15 and decided to join the Shawnee who vowed to stop the American invasion of the territories. His main focus at the time would be to attack settler’s boats traveling the Ohio River. His raids were so successful that the settlers river travel virtually ceased during that

Tecumseh would travel between Ohio and the South, participating and leading different battles against the American Army. Tecumseh was constantly moving during that time as his villages were destroyed by American militias and conventional forces. It was this constant attack that would keep his goals strong of fighting against the white man and his campaign to recruit other tribes to support his efforts. These efforts took a well determined and motivated leader to unite different tribes and convince them to support a common goal, all while fighting battles to increase his support. It speaks volumes about his leadership and presence that he could travel the country and rally people to his cause to fight alongside him. The British Army, seeing Tecumseh as a valuable leader of an unconventional fighting force had no problem providing Tecumseh’s rebellious tribes with arms and