This paper traces the economic and diplomatic causes of the violence between the U.S., Great Britain and Native Americans between the Battle of Tippecanoe and the Portage des Sioux treaty conference. At stake was sovereignty over the western Great Lakes and the lower Ohio and upper Mississippi valleys. The inconclusive nature of the fighting compelled the U.S. to seek peace with the Native Americans through negotiation, rather than from a position of overwhelming strength.

All papers are pre-circulated electronically to those who plan to attend the seminar in person. For a copy of the paper, e-mail Jenny Butler at scholl@newberry.org, or call (312) 255-3524.

The Newberry Library Seminar in Early American History and Culture is co-sponsored by the History Departments of DePaul University, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the Karla Scherer Center for the Study of American Culture at the University of Chicago