In the early 19th century, tensions grew as both Ohio and Michigan territory claimed the Port of Maumee. Residents of the area demanded that the government resolve the border dispute. U.S. Surveyor General Edward Tiffin (a former Ohio Governor) hired William Harris to survey the border using the Ohio Constitution line. Unhappy with the resulting “Harris Line”, Michigan Territory governor Lewis Cass ordered his own survey by John Fulton using the Ordinance line. The 5 to 8 mile wide area between the Lewis line and the Fulton line became known as the Toledo Strip. Michigan quietly settled the Strip, building roads and setting up municipalities. By 1833, Michigan had enough residents to request statehood from Congress but Congress, under pressure from the Ohio delegation, turned down the request due to Michigan’s occupation of the Toledo Strip. In early 1835, the Ohio legislators set up county governments all along the strip including Toledo, further goading Michigan. Michigan’s hot-head governor Stevens Mason passed a law making any government action in the Strip by Ohio illegal and sent in the Michigan militia to enforce it. Ohio responded by sending in militia of its own, igniting the Toledo War.
President Andrew Jackson, anxious to avoid armed conflict, sent two representatives from Washington to negotiate a temporary agreement between the two sides while Congress decided the fate of the Toledo Strip. The talks resulted in a re-survey of the Harris line. The new survey proceeded without incident until the survey team was attacked by 50 to 60 members of the Michigan militia at Phillips Corners on April 26, 1835. Shots were fired over the heads of the survey team who turned tail and ran into the woods. The Battle of Phillips Corners enraged both sides, heating the conflict to the brink of war. Over the next year, there would be many skirmishes and minor bloodshed but no resolution. Finally, on July 15th, 1836, President Jackson signed a bill admitting Michigan to the Union under the condition that the Toledo Strip went to Ohio. In exchange, Michigan got the Upper Peninsula, a seemingly worthless piece of wilderness. Michigan, out of money thanks to the high cost of the militia, agreed to the deal. On January 26, 1837, Michigan was admitted to the Union without the Toledo Strip.
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