After the American Revolution, land speculators in the United States desired the bottom portion of the current state of Ohio, with the full Northwest Territory being the ultimate prize. Encompassing approximately 200 million acres, gaining this territory became a priority for the developing United Colonies. This land was ceded to the United Colonies, now the United States, when the British government signed the Treaty of Peace in 1783.
Focusing on the first decade after the Revolution, this book explains the United States’ seizure of territory in Ohio from the Native People who had no desire or intention of parting with their land. The Northwest Ordinance is discussed as a key event influencing how the United States would develop since this act created the desirable Northwest Territory. How the young republic faced the challenge of gaining this territory from the Natives determined exactly what kind of nation it would become.

The late Robert Alexander published two books of fiction, a narrative history of the Civil War, and edited five literary anthologies.

Robert Alexander
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 238
Bibliographic Info: 6 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9321-7
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5203-0
Imprint: McFarland

Preface: The Beautiful River 1

Prologue: A Terrible Defeat 4

One—After the War 11

Two—The Ohio Company 28

Three—Settlement of Marietta 43

Four—The Treaty of Fort Harmar 56

Five—George Washington, President of the United States 70

Six—Harmar in Kekionga, Cornplanter in Philadelphia 83

Seven—“A horrid savage war stares us in the face.” 95

Eight—The Battle of the Wabash 107

Nine—Aftermath 120

Ten—Debate 135

Eleven—Executive Privilege 148

Twelve—The Road to Fallen Timbers 162

Epilogue: The Legend of Louisa St. Clair 173

Appendix: Excerpts from the Federal Gazette, March–May 1792 181

Chapter Notes 191

Bibliography 215

Index 227