Prophetstown
Tenskwatawa, a leader among the Shawnee, Delaware, and Miami, who lived in what is now Indiana, urged his fellow Native Americans to return to their traditional Native American ways and to reject European culture. Tenskwatawa, who was also known as “The Prophet,” opposed assimilation. In 1808, he founded Prophetstown along the Wabash River, which is near present-day Lafayette, Indiana. Prophetstown provided a haven for fellow Native Americans. Unlike other leaders that had chosen a peaceful path, Tenskwatawa, along with his brother, Tecumseh, steered towards war when dealing with the white settlers.
Tecumseh was a strong ally for Tenskwatawa. He had previously fought against the United States during the 1780s and 1790s. In fact, he had earned a reputation during these battles as a war chief. He was so against the policies of the United States that he had refused to participate in the negotiations regarding the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. He believed the only way the Native Americans were going to truly defeat the white settlers was for them to band together despite their own tribal differences.