Michigan History Week: 13-14

So what was next for Michigan after they were finally free of the British, well statehood was the goal they wanted next. As we looked at how Michigan became a state we started with the Northwest Ordinance which our founding fathers wrote to set-up a system of government and a process for becoming a state, for the territory that would become Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. We looked at the initial Territory and how is was restructured with each state that was formed from it.

We colored a map of the territory showing the states that were formed.

We also added a book on the Northwest Ordinance made from our Homeschool in the Woods, timeline figures.

We Studied the Toledo war, a disagreement between Ohio and Michigan regarding who owned Toledo.  This keep Michigan from gaining statehood until it was resolved.  In the end Toledo was given to Ohio and Michigan revived the Upper Peninsula. While at the time this seemed a huge loss we will learn later it was a great benefit.

The Michigan History museum offers a great map, which we colored showing the Toledo strip and the land we received in exchange for it.

We looked at the Erie Canal,  as it was one of the main ways people traveled to the state.  As part of this we read the book The Amazing, Impossible Erie Canal.  We then completed  a book on the canal listing facts, such as length, how it was made, cost to travel, etc. inside.  The book came from Homeschool Share.

We then looked at home life, women and children in the wilderness.  For this we did several then and now comparison activities.  I found a great one entitled Pioneer Life, on Homeschool Share.  Under the flaps we wrote where each item came/comes from. The left flap folds in and says Pioneer life.

Finally we added Michigan becomes a state, by repeating the Northwest Ordinance activity with the state timeline figure.

Our next stop in our history journey is Michigan's History with the Underground Railroad.  Hope you check back to see how it turns out.

Cassie