The Big Bottom massacre unfolded in a context of rising conflict between Native American tribes and European settlers in the Ohio Country. The Lenape and Wyandot, as members of a coalition of tribes, viewed the encroachment of settlers onto their ancestral lands as a direct threat to their survival and sovereignty. The settlers established a small community known as Big Bottom, located near the confluence of the Muskingum River and its tributaries, which made it an attractive location for agriculture and settlement. On the early morning of January 2, 1791, the warriors launched a surprise attack, exploiting a combination of poor defenses and the isolation of the settlers during winter months when agricultural activities were minimal.During the assault, the attackers reportedly killed at least twenty settlers and abducted others, leaving chaos in their wake. This incident intensified the already strained relations in the region and highlighted the vulnerability of frontier communities. The massacre prompted a series of retaliatory actions by the United States government against Native tribes, further escalating violence in the region. Furthermore, this event epitomized the complexities of the struggle for control over land and resources, which would define the relationship between Native Americans and settlers for decades to come.