1700's

1800's

1900's

2000's

1701 - Detroit was founded as Fort Pontchartrain by French explorer and Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac.

1701 - Madame Cadillac adn Madame Tonty, with of an Italian Explorer and trader Henry de Tonty, arrive at Fort Pontchartrain. They are the first European women in Michigan.

1715 - Fort Michilmackinac was moved to the southern shore of the Straits of Makinac.

1763 - Pontiac and followers enter the fort at Detroit in an abortive effort to capture it from Major Gladwin by surprise attack. Detroit endures a siege of several weeks.

1781 - Spanish forces from St. Louis took Fort St. Joseph (Niles, MI). All the residents were taken prisonor. The Spanish flag was raised. (Four flags have flown over Michigan. Spanish, French, British, and US.

1783 - Michigan becomes part of the United States with the signing of the Treaty of Paris which ended the American Revolution. (The British did control Michigan for 13 more years after the treaty.)

1787 - Congress passed the Ordinance of 1787 outlining the government of the Northwest Territory.

1792 - Detroit, including settlers on both sides of the river, held its first election. They sent three representatives to the Parliment of Upper Canada.

1796 - The British withdrew from Detroit. the US flag is raised for the first time in Michigan.