00:00the year was 1783 the american revolution had ended and the united states was a fragile new
00:08nation its leaders looked west to the northwest territory land promised by britain in the treaty
00:14of paris to americans it was a blank slate land to settle farm and pay off war debts but this
00:20land was far from empty for generations it had been home to the shawnee miami delaware wyandot
00:26pottawatomie and others their villages and hunting grounds filled the forests and prairies this was a
00:32managed homeland not wilderness the rivers trees and earth were sacred their connection deep and
00:38spiritual something no foreign treaty could erase the arrival of settlers felt like invasion families
00:44crossed the ohio river ignoring boundaries and native rights clearing forests and building cabins
00:49to native peoples these newcomers were trespassers threatening their existence every new cabin was a
00:55piece of their world lost the u.s government weak and in debt encouraged settlement to raise money
01:00and reward soldiers native nations saw this as a fight for survival a defense of home family and way
01:07of life they had not signed the treaty of paris nor recognized u.s authority over their lands the
01:13americans saw opportunity the native nations saw invasion neither side would back down the stage was
01:19set for a bitter and bloody conflict facing american expansion the native nations of the ohio valley
01:28united as never before leaders like little turtle miami blue jacket shawnee and bakonga helas delaware
01:35forged the western confederacy a powerful alliance of thousands their message the ohio river was the
01:41permanent boundary no more land would be sold the confederacy insisted that land belong to all tribes in
01:47common rejecting u.s attempts to make deals with small groups they hoped for peace but prepared for war
01:52quiet british support supplies weapons and advice helped sustain their resistance the western confederacy
02:01became a formidable barrier to american ambitions the struggle for the northwest territory had truly begun
02:08president washington underestimated the western confederacy's strength in 1790 general harmar led over
02:181 400 men into ohio aiming to crush native resistance the campaign was a disaster militia were unruly and
02:26native warriors led by little turtle and blue jacket outmaneuvered them at every turn harmar's forces
02:32suffered ambushes and heavy losses culminating in a humiliating defeat nearly 200 americans died the
02:39confederacy's unity and skill stunned the nation news of harmar's defeat shocked the united states
02:45for the confederacy it was a powerful victory proof they could defend their homeland more warriors joined
02:51their cause and their resolve only grew the americans realized conquering the northwest would not be easy
02:57determined to restore american authority washington sent a larger force under arthur st clare in 1791
03:07st clare's army plagued by poor training and supplies camped near the wabash river exhausted and
03:14unprepared at dawn over 1 000 confederacy warriors led by little turtle and blue jacket launched a surprise
03:21attack the american militia broke and fled chaos erupted and the camp was overrun in three hours
03:27the army collapsed into a desperate retreat over 900 of st clare's 1 400 men were killed or wounded
03:34the worst defeat in u.s army history the loss was a national trauma sparking outrage and investigation
03:41for the confederacy it was their greatest victory their power and confidence peaked they believed they
03:47could stop american expansion the united states faced a crisis of credibility the native alliance seemed
03:53unstoppable the war's outcome was far from certain the stakes had never been higher
03:58st clare's defeat devastated president washington and threatened the nation's future determined to
04:06avoid a third disaster washington pushed congress to create a new professional army the legion of the
04:12united states this force would be well trained well supplied and led by a proven commander enter general
04:18anthony wayne mad anthony a bold revolutionary war veteran known for discipline and meticulous planning
04:25wayne understood that victory required more than courage it demanded preparation and unity he set out
04:31to build an army from the ground up refusing to rush into battle wayne's mission restore american honor
04:36and secure the northwest the failures of harmar and st clare would not be repeated the united states was
04:42preparing for a new kind of war the fate of the frontier hung in the balance wayne was determined to tip the scales
04:48general wayne established legionville transforming recruits into a disciplined force soldiers trained
04:57relentlessly marksmanship bayonet charges and field maneuvers became routine wayne enforced strict
05:03discipline building a culture of professionalism the u.s had never seen he adapted tactics for forest
05:09warfare emphasizing scouting and open order fighting to counter ambushes the legion was divided into flexible
05:16sub legions ready for any challenge wayne advanced slowly building forts to secure supply lines and
05:22assert american presence at the site of saint claire's defeat he built fort recovery a symbol of defiance and
05:28renewal in 1794 blue jacket led a major assault on the fort but wayne's disciplined troops held firm
05:36the confederacy suffered heavy losses their morale was shaken the americans had become a formidable force
05:42with fort recovery secure wayne marched deeper into confederacy territory toward the mommy river native
05:52leaders debated little turtle urged peace but blue jacket and others chose battle they set an ambush at
05:58fallen timbers using a tornado ravaged forest as cover on august 20th 1794 the confederacy attacked but
06:07wayne's legion responded with discipline and speed infantry charged with bayonets cavalry flanked the
06:13warriors the battle was brief and decisive the confederacy broke and fled seeking refuge at british
06:19held fort miami's the warriors found the gates closed british betrayal shattered native confidence
06:25the western confederacy's resistance collapsed the americans had won the decisive battle the war's end was near
06:30defeated at fallen timbers and abandoned by the british the confederacy's leaders faced starvation
06:39and ruin in 1795 over a thousand native delegates met general wayne at fort greenville to negotiate
06:47peace the treaty of greenville forced the confederacy to cede vast lands most of ohio the future site of
06:53chicago and more in return they received goods and a promise of annual payments the new boundary the
07:00greenville treaty line was meant to separate native and american lands for the u.s it was a monumental
07:05victory opening the northwest to settlement for native peoples it was a disaster loss of homeland
07:10and the end of united resistance the treaty's permanent line proved temporary a new era of land loss and
07:16forced removals had begun the northwest indian war is often overlooked but its impact was profound
07:25early defeats forced the u.s to build a professional army and assert federal power in the west for native
07:31nations it was a story of unity skill and heartbreaking loss the western confederacy's resistance was the
07:37high water mark of native power in the region the treaty of greenville began a cycle conflict defeat and
07:44land session repeated across the continent the war shattered hopes for a permanent native homeland east of
07:50the mississippi remembering this war reveals the true cost of american expansion and the enduring
07:56strength of those who fought to protect their world it is a chapter we cannot afford to forget
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