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Free Traveling Guides » States » Michigan History of Michigan
Michigan, situated in the east north central states, is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. It has been named after Lake Michigan, whose name is derived from the Ojibwe term mishigami, meaning "large water" or "large lake”. Prior to the colonization by Europeans, Michigan was home to a number of Native Americans. After the arrival of the first European explorers in 1622, the most influential tribes in the area were the Ottawa, the Anishnabe, and the Pottawatomie. These three tribes co-existed in the State as a part of a confederation known as the Council of Three Fires. Other First Nations people in Michigan included the Menominee, the Miami, the Wyandot, and the Mascouten. The first European settlement was established in 1641 on the site where Sault Sainte-Marie was made by Father Jacques Marquette in 1668. The other 2 cities founded in Michigan at this time were Saint Ignace in 1671 and Marquette in 1675. However, Sault Sainte-Marie, the oldest city in the State, was split into two cities in 1818. Fort Pontchartrain was established by Cadillac in 1701 in order to strengthen French control over the upper Great Lakes. Church of Saint Ann and Fort Michilimackinac were also founded in the same year. During the French rule, the town had become a major shipping post and a fur trading center. Michigan was a part of the Royal Province of New France until the end of the French rule. It was in 1763 that Michigan and the rest of New France was given to Great Britain as per the Treaty of Paris. However, after the War of 1812, the British were forced out of the Michigan Territory by the American forces. In 1817, the entire control of islands in the St. Clair River delta and the Upper Peninsula was transferred from Ontario to Michigan. The opening of the Erie Canal in 1825 led to a significant increase in the population of the State. The 20th century saw a massive change in the economy of the State. A major milestone in the history of industrial development is the birth of the automotive industry, with Henry Ford’s first plant in Highland Park. The other important events in the history of Michigan include the success of the first primary elections held in 1910; construction of largest and most ornate skyscrapers such as the Guardian Building and the Fisher Building; and the outward movement that started after World War II owing to racial tension and housing shortages. Michigan has a dynamic history and at present, it is the 8th populous city in the United States. |
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