Tecumseh was a significant Native American leader who formed a confederation of 32 tribes to resist westward expansion by the Americans and protect Native American land and sovereignty. However, mistakes made by Tecumseh's brother Laulewasika and the unwillingness of tribes to fully cooperate, as well as violent actions taken by American settlers, ultimately led to the failure of Tecumseh's confederation despite his efforts to unite the tribes against the growing threat posed by the Americans.