Although Harrison came to be disliked by some of his constituents, he did much to enhance the power of the United States in the early 1800s. While he served as governor, Harrison also worked as the Superintendent for Indian Affairs in the American Northwest. He convinced many Native Americans to relinquish millions of acres of land in what is now the midwestern part of the United States. Since the United States had reserved this land to the Indians in the Treaty of Greeneville, not all Native Americans were willing to forsake their claims. Chief among these people were the Shawnee Indians, led by Tecumseh and the Prophet, Tecumseh’s brother. These two men worked together to form a confederation of all Indian tribes west of the Appalachian Mountains. Harrison marched against Tecumseh in late 1811. While Tecumseh was away seeking additional followers, Harrison attacked the Shawnees’ major village, Prophetstown. On November 7, 1811, at the Battle of Tippecanoe, the American army destroyed the village and hindered the success of the native alliance.

Now a military hero, Harrison continued to serve his country. In 1812, the War of 1812 began between the United States and Great Britain. President James Madison promoted Harrison to the rank of brigadier-general and put him in command of the Army of the Northwest. Harrison was responsible for protecting American settlements in the West from English and Indian attack. Fearing the continued influx of American settlers, most natives sided with the British in the conflict. Harrison proved adept in defending the United States’ western possessions. In October 1813, Harrison led the Army of the Northwest against a combined British and Native American force led by General Henry Proctor and Tecumseh. Known as the Battle of the Thames, the Americans emerged victorious. The English ran from the battlefield, leaving the Indians to fight on alone. The Americans defeated the Native Americans, killing Tecumseh.

Following the War of 1812, Harrison returned to politics. He made his home at North Bend just west of Cincinnati, Ohio. He represented Ohio in the United States Congress for two terms. He also served as the United States ambassador to Colombia in 1828 and 1829. In 1836, he ran as a member of the Whig Party against Democrat Martin Van Buren for the Presidency of the United States. Van Buren, Vice President under Andrew Jackson, won the election. In 1840, Harrison ran against the incumbent. He emphasized his military record against Tecumseh and the British in the War of 1812. With John Tyler of Virginia as Harrison’s running mate, the campaign’s slogan was “Tippecanoe and Tyler, Too.”

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