The Treaty of Fort Wayne obtained land from the Native American Indians for white settlers — land that would become Illinois and Indiana. Even though many of the native tribes of the region were extremely opposed to selling white settlers any more land, General Harrison began negotiating with tribes that were more open to the idea to try and persuade other tribes to reconsider.
On this day September 30th, in 1809, Treaty of Fort Wayne: Gen. William Henry Harrison negotiates a deal for 3 million acres of Indiana Territory Indian land. In exchange for the territories Harrison promised to pay large sums of money to every tribe that agreed.
After months of negotiation with different tribes Harrison found it difficult to convince everyone to sign. In order to pressure reluctant groups, Harrison offered them more money. Unfortunately, the treaty led to a bloody war with Tecumseh, the Shawnee leader, who was strongly opposed to any lands being sold to whites. Tecumseh was so adamant that he threatened to kill any chief that agreed to sell land to whites.