By the early 19th century, many Shawnee and other Ohio Valley Indians were becoming increasingly dependent on trading with the Americans for guns, cloth, and metal goods. Tecumseh spoke out against such dependence and called for a return to traditional Indian ways.

Britain and France, engaged in a contest for world power from 1792-1815 in the aftermath of the French Revolution, flagrantly violated the rights of neutral countries, including the United States.

On 16 August, Brock marched up the road toward the fort as Tecumseh’s men swept north through the forest. The popular story that Tecumseh marched his men three times through an opening in the forest to give the idea of a much larger force lacks real evidence. Nevertheless, at 10 am a white flag appeared over the walls of the fort.

On August 19, 1812, Constitution approached Guerriere, holding her fire until she was along side, then fired a devastating broadside. After a few short minutes, Guerriere’s masts were shot away and plunged into the sea.