Why Michigan and Ohio Went to War | State Rivalries

#ohiovsmichigan #staterivalries #ushistory

Produced by Matt Beat. Music by Electric Needle Room (Mr. Beat's band). All images and video either by Matt Beat, found in the public domain, or used under fair use guidelines.

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Today, when Americans think of a Michigan and Ohio rivalry, they think of college football. “The Game,” is a major match-up each year between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s one of the most well known sports rivalries around, mostly due to the fact that geographically the schools are close, and the two football teams are usually both very good and competing for their conference championship. The two teams have played every year since 1918, and the rivalry actually goes all the way back to 1897. At that first game in 1897, In the stands at the game were at least some fans who were alive when their two states freaking went to war with each other, and I’m sure this helped fuel the rivalry. Yep, you heard that right. Michigan and Ohio went to war with each other. But before we get there, let’s go back away.

The story begins with the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which the United States passed to create the Northwest Territory, the first organized territory in the country. It stretched from the Appalachian Mountains to the Mississippi River, between British North America and the Great Lakes in the north and the Ohio River in the south. In order to create future states, the U.S. gave Ohio Country a northern boundary that went from the southern tip of Lake Michigan straight east to Lake Erie. North of this line would be the future state of Michigan. South of this line, the future state of Ohio. However, the cartographers who drew up the map of the border didn’t do a good job. The maps were...how do you say...inaccurate, to say the least. Like this map, which showed the border giving Ohio the entire eastern coast of Lake Erie and even possibly Detroit. During the Ohio constitutional convention of 1802, a fur trapper showed up and said the northern boundary was actually much further south. In fact, south of a crucial waterway out of Lake Erie called the Maumee River.

Well this freaked the Ohioans out. Hoping to push their luck, they went ahead and made the northern border just north of the Maumee River, and hoped the federal government wouldn’t notice when it admitted Ohio as a state in 1803. Well guess what. People noticed. In 1805, when folks tried to establish the territory of Michigan, surveyors, realized the southern tip of Lake Michigan was further south of the Maumee River.

So, there was a classic border dispute. And for many years, the federal government did not step in. Finally, in 1817, it sent a dude named Edward Tiffin to check it out. His team concluded that the border that went just north of the Maumee, as recognized by the Ohio constitution, was indeed the accurate one. The problem, though, was that Tiffin might have been a little bit biased. You see, he used to be the governor of Ohio. So of course Michiganders were gonna protest. Michigan Territorial Governor Lewis Cass went to President James Monroe to ask for another survey at the border. The second team, led by John Fulton, came out to more accurately put the border directly east of the southern tip of Lake Michigan, which was well south of the mouth of the Maumee River.

[tencorgmail]

Michigan and Ohio: Goes to war
Loser: Wisconsin

[benjurek]

Being a Toledo Native, the state rivalry is still a big deal. The city’s allegiance is split about 50/50 between Ohio and Michigan.

[notakittie]

I'm an Ohio kid and I clearly remember being in elementary school hearing other kids chanting "go bucks. Michigan sucks." I'm not into sports but I would refuse to put blue and yellow next to each other when coloring something so my classmates wouldn't think I was supporting Michigan. This rivalry is ingrained in us as kids before we even know where the other state is.

[kaiserwilhelmii]

You know who really lost?



(Wisconsin)

[carlbowles]

I'm a former Michigan resident. The Michigan/Ohio State foot ball game is a religious high holy day. Everyone is super excited including those who care little for college football. The game is a huge revenue generator and a day of unity. I still root for Michigan though I no longer live there.
Hail to the Victor's is the Michigan fight song, I sing it with pride.

[morbuskid]

Michigan and Ohio where probably amongst the most feirce regiments during the American Civil War,

Ohioans actually made up around 20% of the official Union Army between the years 1862-3 but these Early war Ohioans were something fierce. Made up of Irishmen, Italians, and Germans as well as US born Citizens, it did not stand as the most diverse but probably the most dedicated. During Antietam the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry led a large skirmish force of around 300 men to capture a hill position from Virginia Skirmishes, successfully pushing them off and then holding that hill which was a crucial overlook position on Bloody Lane. If Those Skirmishers hadn't been taken off that hill then Union forces making the charge would've been harshly pelted in the Flank, taking much higher casualties than actually sustained. What makes Antietam the defining moment for the 8th OVI is the fact that after taking 40-50% casualties they actually regrouped and charged with the main force, being reported to have been the first unit over the fence and fighting to capture Sunken Road. The 8th was then appropriately named "The Fighting Fools" just because of how brainlessly dedicated they were to their cause, almost insanely so.

And on Michigan's behalf we of course have Ohio to thank for giving them the name "Wolverines" which was used as a battlecry during the Charge of the Michigan troops at the Battle of Gettysburg, another minor engagement but with much prowess as they had been tasked with recapturing a vital position needed to ensure the Hook would not be compromised.

I think when you set beside the childish rivalry, Ohio and Michigan are almost unstoppable together, as they marched together in the American Civil War, I'm not sure if it ever happened directly but sure as hell at Gettysburg there were Ohio and Michigan state troops fighting on the same side.

[josephbrandsen]

Michigan got the better deal, until the advent of No fault auto insurance in 1973.

[nuclearbomb]

I’m Just glad everybody isn’t spamming “only In Ohio 💀”

[violetlightz]

I’m from Michigan and the only thing we like about Ohio is Cedar Point

edit: wow what is up yalls ass 😂

[mjpottertx]

As someone originally from Ohio, I think Michigan clearly won, as Ohio was forced to keep Toledo.

[devinjerryfreedomisfree]

The fact that’s it’s called “the game” gives it legitimacy to be the best sports rivalry. Ik there’s Red Sox-Yankees and Packers-Bears and Giants-Eagles etc but still

[mousetreehouse]

This may not be relevant, but did anyone notice the 1897 Ohio football uniforms look like old timey prison outfits???

[johnnyonthespot]

Here is a consideration :
I have traveled this country and lived in 14 different States over those years and although we are all Americans do not kid yourself, people are distinctly different in different States but growing up in Michigan I have been a full part of that fun Ohio/Michigan rivalry but, having spent considerable amounts of time in Toledo and other cities these two States have the exact same people in them.

You can take a person from Ohio and move them to Michigan and not a soul would notice....but take a person from New York and put them ANYWHERE and they would be noticed .

[jaredschemanski]

Michigander here, we definitely came ahead with the UP. as for the rivalry, sports might be how most people not from these two states think it manifests. In reality it is deeper than that. When a Michigander meets someone from Ohio, there is usually an awkward pause or some joke like "sucks to be you" or " I'm sorry". Now this is usually in jest nowadays as I have many friends from Ohio, particularly Toledo. It is a regional thing you can't understand if you weren't born to it.

[kaelalist]

I love that the Wolverines actually got their name from Ohio saying that michiganders were "as fierce as Wolverines". Also they covered this in third grade in Michigan.

[Ayastie]

Im from Michigan and even people who don't like sports talk crap about Ohio all the time. I mean it certainly is no coincidence that our worst great lake we have is the one we share with Ohio ;)

[gop_juice]

I live in on sports day at school once I wore a Ohio state jersey, the kids said it was illegal. I just wanted to wear my grandpa’s jersey 😭

[ang]

I'm from Ohio and can tell you that probably 99% of the state doesn't even know about this - I know I didn't. But it's interesting history behind the rivalry that's just always been there.

[dogetheswaggy]

As an Ohioan, I can confirm there's a lot of rivalries. You can't even wear anything that has a little bit of "Michigan colors" on it without getting yelled at.

[theflats]

I am from Flint, but I love Ohio, every time I go there the people treat me good, I had great times hunting apple orchard on a family farm, thank you David for great D, :S FOREVER