This is a fascinating series explaining all the factors involved in the shaping of the states. Part 2 addresses the Midwestern states.
The French had occupied the area we call the Midwest plus much more territory since they first explored the area in 1624. Following many battles with the English, King Louis XV gave up the land to England, Following the revolution, England ceded the Northwest Territory to the United States in 1783 and in 1787 the fledgling US government passed the Northwest Ordinance to be divided into several states. But where to draw those lines? There were many factors involved in shaping the states: access to waterways, maintaining certain areas for economic or other reasons, geography, shifting river beds, faulty surveying to name some. Join us to here how it all got sorted out!