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The Toledo War
Toledo, Michigan?
This wooden ammunition box is in the museum's Statehood Gallery. It is lined with muslin,
a plain woven cotton fabric, and is typical of small military containers in the early nineteenth century. The words on the
lid of the box—C G (or Co [Company] G) No 4 Toledo Mich—show that it dates back to the years of
the Toledo War. (The name Toledo was first given to a village on Maumee Bay in 1835.)
 Michigan Territory claimed the
"Toledo Strip," an area along
its border with Ohio near the Maumee River. Ohio, which was already a state, also claimed
the land. Although Michigan and Ohio both sent militia units to the area between 1835 and
1837, no shots were fired. The Toledo Strip played in important role in the
story of Michigan achieving statehood. The map shows the two
areas involved in the settlement of the dispute.
Statehood Achieved
Following the Compromise of 1820 it was the practice to admit a free state and a slave state at the same time. However, when both Arkansas and Michigan were ready for statehood, Michigan was
involved in a dispute with Ohio over the Toledo Strip. President Jackson signed a bill on June 15, 1836, that admitted Arkansas but
required the people of Michigan to settle the dispute before Michigan would be granted statehood. Michigan would need to consent to a compromise measure drawn up by Congress. The compromise gave the
Toledo Strip to Ohio and the western two-third (2/3) of the present Upper Peninsula to Michigan.
A convention to consider the compromise took place in Ann Arbor on
September 26, 1836, after delegates were elected. They deliberated for four days;
then they rejected the compromise. On December 14 a second "Convention of Assent" was assembled, which—two days
later—passed a resolution that accepted the compromise. After this news reached Washington, a bill was introduced to admit Michigan to the Union.
Congress passed the bill, and President Jackson signed it on January 26, 1837.
Find a time line of Important
Dates in Michigan's Quest for Statehood in Teachers' Stuff.
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