The History of Michigan Study Guide and information
· The first people to live in the state of Michigan were the Native Americans. The three main tribes were the three fires (Ojibway, Potawatomi, and the Odawa).
· The second groups of people to live in the state of Michigan were the French Explorers. They wanted to sail west to China but didn’t know that North America was in the way. Remember, people back then did not have good maps and globes to show them the way they had to figure it out on their own. Once the French reached North America, they decided to explore the great lakes. They met the Native Americans and began to trade furs to take home. They especially wanted beaver furs since they were so scarce in France. The French Explorers began to trade furs for pots and artifacts that the Native Americans made. The fur trade became very popular and made huge profits for the French Explorers.
· Another reason the French wanted to stay in Michigan is because they wanted to tell the tribes about their God. The priests lived with the tribes and tried to convert them to Christianity so they tried really hard to be their friends. Father Marquette was a famous French Explorer who was a part of the Catholic Church, he led the Christians on their mission to convert Native Americans to his religion.
· The French soon claimed the land of Canada and the Great Lakes, they even called the land New France. They forgot that the Native Americans were there first. The Native Americans did not feel threatened by the French because the French were very friendly and easy to get along with.
· The third groups of explorers who came to Michigan were the British. They heard about the great fur trade and wanted to be a part of it. They came to Michigan and started to build forts all over the land to claim it as their own. They did not ask anyone for permission and they began wanting to be a part of the fur trade which made the French explorers mad.
· Soon the British wanted to take New France away from the French explorers. The French explorers were worried because the British were very powerful, they had huge cannons and a much larger army. So the French decided to team up with the Native Americans against the British and defend their land.
· The French-Indian war lasted from 1754-1763. The Odawa Chief Pontiac was very important in this war. He led a large group of Native American warriors during a battle in what is now Detroit and helped them win the French-Indian war.
· In 1796, Michigan became a part of the United States of America.
Third Graders, The test will take place this Monday. You should know the following information:
- The different groups of people who came to Michigan in chronological order.
- Name three reasons why the French explorers came to Michigan.
- Explain why the fur trade was so important to the French.
- What does the word scarce mean?
- In what year did Michigan finally become a state?
