Tenskwatawa, Shawnee Indian Prophet
by Science Source
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Tenskwatawa, Shawnee Indian Prophet
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Science Source
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Photograph - Photograph
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Image taken from page 71 of "Illustrated Historical Sketches of the Indians, exhibiting their manners and customs on the battle field, and in the Wigwam from the best authorities" by John Frost, 1857. Tenskwatawa (March 1768 - November 1836) was a Native American religious and political leader of the Shawnee tribe, known as The Prophet or the Shawnee Prophet. He had a series of religious visions which transformed his life and led him to reject his old ways. Revelations that the white invaders from the east were "not my children, but the children of the Evil Spirit." He led a purification movement to return his people to their traditional ways, and to extirpate the evils represented by the Americans. His followers followed him west to form a large multi-tribal community known to the whites as Prophetstown or Tippecanoe in 1808. The site was located near the juncture of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers. Such places at the junction of two rivers had significant spiritual significance in tribal culture. The site was also a geographic central point to the political and military alliance that was forming around Tenskwatawa's brother Tecumseh. Late in 1811, Tecumseh journeyed south to meet with representatives of other tribes in hopes of building a larger alliance, leaving Tenskwatawa in command at Prophetstown. According to legend, Tecumseh ordered Tenskwatawa to avoid any confrontation with whites during his absence, but while Tecumseh was still away, an American force under command of William Henry Harrison surrounded the village. Harrison arranged to meet with Tenskwatawa the following day, but the next morning, warriors from Prophetstown attacked. Harrison and his men stood their ground and the Natives were ultimately repulsed. After the battle, the Natives abandoned Prophetstown. The Indians buried their men in the night, and stripped The Prophet of his powers. The village at Prophetstown was burned down and the defeat put an end to Tecumseh's hope of a broad Native
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December 2nd, 2015
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