Native Americans: Top Ten Famous Native Americans From the 1600-1900s

By | February 20, 2019

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Squanto. Source: (post-gazette.com)

Many Native Americans helped to shape the history of the United States. Some of them lost their land as well as their heritage while others thrived and became legends.

Squanto

Born as “Tisquantum” in 1585, Squanto was born in Massachusetts. According to some historians, Squanto (along with others) was kidnapped and taken back to England by Captain George Weymouth in the early 1600s because he was not able to find the gold he was looking for. While there, he learned the English language and became an interpreter for Captain John Smith, who he accompanied back to America in 1614. He was later recaptured by Thomas Hunt when he was tricked into getting into his ship and was sold into slavery in Spain. When he ended up back in England, he then traveled back to America with Captain John Smith. Sadly, most of his tribe was gone due to smallpox. Squanto was most known for his help with the Pilgrims by teaching them how to fish and plant corn for the first time in Native American history.

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Tecumseh. Source: (thestar.com)

Tecumseh

Tecumseh was a brave Shawnee warrior and leader who was born in Ohio in 1768.

He was instrumental in organizing a confederacy and fighting in the War of 1812. His older sister was forced to raise him after his father was killed during battle and his mother left. His younger brother was considered a prophet who had visions. Both Tecumseh and his brother tried to persuade the other Native Americans not to follow the ways of the white man or give up land to them. Tecumseh desired to create a confederacy of the Indian tribes and create their own country. He was able to gain some ground toward that goal during the War of 1812 when he allied with the British. Unfortunately, in 1813, his dream died as he was killed when he and his warriors were attacked by William Henry Harrison and his army.