Tecumseh’s Speech to the Osages (Winter 1811-12)

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The document I’m analyzing is Tecumseh’s speech to the Osages that was written in the winter of 1811-1812. I chose this speech by Tecumseh, a Shawnee leader, because he made an effort to do everything he can to not let the white people infiltrate the grounds on which he built his life on. He brings up the issue that the reason why the others tribes didn’t survive or was forced off their land was because they didn’t help each other out. The same thing will happen to the Shawnee tribe and the Osages if they do not form an alliance. Tecumseh didn’t stand by and let the White settlers, businesses and the US army take over his home, he spoke out to different tribes to get everyone that was left to unite and defend what is theirs. Tecumseh also brings up the point that they have treated the white men with hospitality and warmth and in return get nothing but animosity. This source is reliable because during this time there was a war going on to drive the Indians off their land either by force or death.

The larger historical context is that there is an ethnic cleansing going on, the white settlers’ invaded territories belonging to the Indians and took their lands. The white people wanted to settle east of Mississippi in the United States and in order to do that they had to get rid of the Indians, any way possible.

Prior to reading this speech I never knew how the white people got the Indians to leave their homes. The white men think they’re superior just because they have weapons and a religion. The Indians have someone they believe in too and they call him the Great Spirit. The white men were so selfish and greedy that instead of staying in their own land they felt the need to take over territories that fed a whole tribe. By taking away the lands the Indians would have to start again, meaning they could starve or die from fatigue or malnutrition by traveling, and hoping others won’t come and do the same.

The bias is that Tecumseh is an Indian himself, he knows...
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