_sarah_

SYH653 and I were educating the Ohio people on the Toledo Strip thing (when the territory of Michigan and the state of Ohio were fighting over the ten-mile strip from Toledo to the Ohio/Indiana border). This was my contribution.

"Yup. The Northwest Ordinance stated that the boundaries would end at the tip of Lake Michigan. Ohio, however, wanted that strip because they wanted to construct a canal from Lake Erie to the Maumee after seeing how successful the Erie Canal in NY had been.

So, Michigan, which was only a territory at the time, had no say but didn't want to lose any of their ordinance-allotted land. They appealed to Congress, and Congress said, "Okay, you two. Shut the fuck up. Here... Michigan... you can have the rest of the U.P. and a whole bunch of money."

Michigan said, "Oh, alright," took their ball home, and promised to hate Ohio forever and ever.

Then, Michigan discovered that the U.P. had a TON of lumber, iron, copper, and other such things. And then, later, tourism was bourne.

To this, Michigan said, "Ha! We have won over you, Ohio!"

They got along until Ohio's speed limit stayed at 55 while Michigan's climbed to 65 and then 70, and lo, we doth hate them again.



And THAT, my friends, is what my tuition pays for."