Michigan Territory facts for kids

Michigan becomes a state of the Union when it agrees to the boundaries dictated by the U.S. Congress, giving up its claim to the Toledo Strip and accepts the western portion of the Upper Peninsula.

The Michigan Territory was a part of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837. On that date, it officially became the 26th state of the Union, known as Michigan. The main city and capital of the territory was Detroit.

How Michigan Territory Grew

The Treaty of Detroit was an important agreement signed on November 17, 1807. It was made between William Hull, who represented the United States, and several Native American tribes. These tribes included the Odawa, Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Wyandot people.

In this treaty, the Native American tribes agreed to give a large area of land to the United States. This land included what is now Southeast Michigan and a part of Ohio near the Maumee River. The tribes were allowed to keep small areas of land within this region. This agreement helped the Michigan Territory grow larger.

How Many People Lived There?

The numbers below do not include most Native Americans. The Northwest Territory, which Michigan Territory was once part of, had 43,365 people in 1800. A territory could apply to become a state once its population reached 60,000 people. This rule was part of the Northwest Ordinance.

Leaders of the Territory

The governors were important leaders who managed the Michigan Territory. They helped prepare the area to become a state.

Images for kids

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  An 1831 map of Michigan by David H. Burr, showing boundaries of early counties.

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  Stevens T. Mason ran for governor in the first state elections in 1835.

See also

In Spanish: Territorio de Míchigan para niños