Early Settlers

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Early Settlers
The state of Michigan, located midwest in America, has been habited by mankind for thousands of years, beginning with early Indian tribes like; Ojibwa, Menominee, Miami, Ottawa, and Potawatomi among others. The native population in the area was thought to be about 15,000 people. The Frenchman Étienne Brûlé who arrived from Québec City in1620 is acknowledged as the first European explorer in the area. The French would acquire the area from around 1668 by establishing trading posts like the one at “Sault Ste. Marie”, which marked the first European settlement in Michigan (Rubenstein, Bruce, and Ziewacz 34). Due to the very profitable fur trade in the area, the British began to take an interest, culminating in the French- Indian War, fought between British sponsored Indians and the French settlers.
Russell notes that British victory at Québec in 1759 was assured by the surrender of the French to the Major Robert Rogers, and with it began the British reign of the area (Russell 23). To protect their fur trade, the British imposed stringent laws and discouraged immigration to Michigan; this was in contrast to the French who conducted their affairs in a relaxed manner. Despite this, early settlers from the north and the west trickled in as the mineral ores drew them in the area among other trading activities. Indeed, this influx of human population culminated in the Pontiac Rebellion, which was fought by the Ottawa tribe leader, Pontiac. A series of conflicts between the fledgling United States of America and the colonial Empire resulted in the American Revolution which had little effect in the area of Michigan.

Even after the war, the British remained in Michigan for more than a decade due to some reasons, its strategic position and unwillingness to give up on the profitable fur trade in the Great Lakes region. Russell writes that the British control of the area ended with the loss to “Mad” Anthony Wayne, a former revolutionary (Russell 67). The state of Michigan formally joined the Union as a territory with the signing of the Jay Treaty in 1794.
Taking advantage of low population in the area, many settlers from New England often known as “Yankee settlers” moved to Michigan in large numbers. These immigrants were drawn in large numbers to the pelts and fur trade in the area. Moore writes that the discovery of iron and copper ores in the area only fuelled immigration to the territory, including Cornish miners from England who helped start a fledgling mining industry (Moore 54). Furthermore, the inexpensive farmland in the area drew many low-income families who were facing overcrowding in New England. Indeed, the area’s population grew quickly as these new settlers had large households, leading to the doubling of the population in a decade or so. This problem was exacerbated with the building of the Erie Canal
In their new homes, these new settlers faced hardships in their attempt to establish a foothold in the newly formed state of Michigan. Incessant raids by the Native Indians who were being forcefully resettled into reservations killed many settlers who lacked protection or military training. Tribal leaders like Pontiac and Tecumseh had tried to rally the tribes against the European settlement, and even many treaties could not put a complete end to raids and skirmishes (Graff 85). The new territory of Michigan faced many problems. For example, on July 1, 1805, the town of Detroit was mostly destroyed in a fire. Furthermore, repeated attempts by the British to gain back their territory culminated in the War of 1812, which started with the routing of American soldiers. The war ended by a weary Britain who accepted the Treaty of Ghent in 1814.
References
Graff, George P. The People of Michigan. Lansing: “Michigan Dept. of Education, State Library Services”, 1974. Print.
Moore, Charles. History of Michigan. Place of publication not identified: Nabu Press, 2010. Print.
Rubenstein, Bruce A, and Lawrence E. Ziewacz. Michigan: “A History of the Great Lakes State.”, 2014. Print.
Russell, Nelson V. The British Régime in Michigan & the Old Northwest, 1760-1796. Northfield Minn: Carleton College, 1939. Print.