Tecumseh, the son of Chief Pukeshinwau and Methaotaaskee, grew up to be one of many influential Native American leaders. Tecumseh was the brother of Cheeseekau, Tecumapese, Lalawethika …show more content…
In his first battle, Tecumseh had witnessed Cheeseekau bleeding to death on the battlefield. Which then he fled, but soon he returned to find his brother alive. In that moment, Tecumseh swore he would never back down from his enemies. During a raid, Tecumseh exhibited compassion towards the prisoners being held captive and he spoke out in favor to save them. One of the many traits that made Tecumseh a great leader was his ability the way he spoke. One of the people whom Tecumseh had affected had said he was, “naturally eloquent, very fluent, graceful in his gesticulation, but not in the habit of using very many gestures. There was no violence, vehemence of his mode of delivering his speeches. He always made a great impression on his audience.” Not only was Tecumseh able to compel people with his words, but made decisions he believed was best for his …show more content…
The Nez Perce relations with the Unites States government affected them greatly. Congress passed the Homestead Act which offered settlers to build homes on a 160-acre plot in 1862. Calvin Hale, the Superintendent of Indian Affairs offered the Nez Perce $262,000 for ninety percent of their land. Tradition chiefs of the Nez Perce refused the proposal, but Lawyer the “head chief” signed the treaty without their consent. After Lawyer’s decision to sign the treaty, the Nez Perce were divided into two separate lands, Lapwai and Wallowa. Joseph and his men remained on ancestral land in Wallowa, current day Oregon. While in Wallowa, ranchers invaded the little land they were given. The reasoning for the ranchers settling was because of the Treaty of 1863. Joseph argued that treaty did not apply to them for his father had only signed the Treaty of 1855. John Monteith, governmental agent in charge of peacefully resolving conflicts within the Nez Perce land addressed this problem to President Ulysses Grant. President Grant then ordered the divide of the Wallowa River in half for the two sides to share. Monteith and Reuben, a treaty chief, advised Joseph to relocate to Lapwai in order to keep his people safe, but he refused. Joseph had promised his father he would guard their spiritual ancestral land. Being a strong