Blue Corn Comics -- Was Native Defeat Inevitable?

Was Native Defeat Inevitable?
(6/26/00)

A response to Was Native Defeat Inevitable?:

>> I've been told that if Earth Shaker Tecumseh had organized a cadre, leaving some behind as organizational laisons when he solicited allegiance and support from Eastern and South Eastern tribes — the westward expansion of Euroamericans could have been altered and checked. The problem was that after Tecumseh solicited support, and moved on to the next group, those who had 'signed up' really didn't know what to do insofar as a united, organized resistance was concerned. <<

Excellent point...and almost the same one made in my original posting. Great minds must think alike. <g> The only difference is, I attributed the turning point to the defeat of his forces when Tecumseh was absent, not to poor organization.

I'll add that the same independence that made Native people strong also hurt them against the invaders. Disorganization and disunity were huge problems. In history books you read constantly of Indians fighting with Europeans against other Indians.

But again, consider the effects of disease. How many peacemakers like Tecumseh died before they could unite the warring tribes? How many tribes failed to reach the critical mass necessary to sustain a league or confederacy? How many people threw in with one European faction or another because they were too weakened by illness to stand alone?

Rob

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