Curse of Tippecanoe facts for kids
The Curse of Tippecanoe is a famous folk tale about Presidents of the United States. It's also called Tecumseh's Curse or the Twenty-Year Curse. This story says that any U.S. President elected or re-elected in a year ending in "0" will die while still in office.
The "curse" started with President William Henry Harrison. He was elected in 1840. He died in office from pneumonia just one month after becoming President.
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How the Curse Started
According to the folk tale, the curse began because of a battle. This battle was the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. General Harrison fought against Native American tribes during this battle. The battle was very famous, and "Old Tippecanoe" became Harrison's nickname.
The story says that a Native American leader, possibly Tecumseh or his brother, was very angry after the battle. They supposedly put a curse on Harrison and future Presidents. This curse would affect those elected in years ending in "0".
Presidents Affected by the Curse
Many Presidents who were elected in a "zero" year died while in office. This made people believe the curse was real.
The Presidents who died in office after being elected in a "zero" year include:
- William Henry Harrison (elected 1840, died 1841 from pneumonia)
- Abraham Lincoln (re-elected 1864, assassinated 1865)
- James A. Garfield (elected 1880, assassinated 1881)
- William McKinley (re-elected 1900, assassinated 1901)
- Warren G. Harding (elected 1920, died 1923 from pneumonia)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt (re-elected 1944, died 1945 from a brain hemorrhage)
- John F. Kennedy (elected 1960, assassinated 1963)
Only one President died in office without being elected in a "cursed" year. This was Zachary Taylor, who was elected in 1848 and died in 1850.
Presidents Who Survived the Curse
The most recent Presidents elected in a "zero" year did not die in office. This has led many to believe the curse might be broken.
These Presidents survived:
- Ronald Reagan (elected 1980)
- George W. Bush (elected 2000)
Many people think the curse was broken when Ronald Reagan survived an assassination attempt. In 1981, a man named John Hinckley tried to shoot him. Reagan was hurt but recovered. After he survived, no other Presidents elected in a "zero" year died in office.
When George W. Bush was elected in 2000, he also faced an assassination attempt. However, he was not harmed and completed his two terms. These events made many people think the "Curse of Tippecanoe" was finally over.
Images for kids
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William Henry Harrison, nicknamed Old Tippecanoe, died just a month after taking office in 1841. His death is the first attributed to the Curse of Tippecanoe.
See also
In Spanish: Maldición de Tecumseh para niños
