Northeast Ohio Context 1650-1805
Northeast Ohio has a unique heritage that is reflected in its historic name, the "Western Reserve." After the American War of Independence, the United States Congress asked the former 13 colonies to surrender their extra land claims. One by one, each state gave up her additional territory -- except Connecticut. In 1786, Connecticut relinquished all but a small portion of its original vast claim. Connecticut successfully negotiated to keep that portion of land that extends 120 miles due west of the Ohio/Pennsylvania border between the 41.0 and 42.2 lines of latitude. This territory became known as the "Western Reserve" to raise funds to replace the coffers which were nearly empty from Connecticut's Revolutionary War debts.Connecticut still did not have clear title to its "Western Reserve." There were valid Native American claims on the land which were relinquished in two stages. The eastern half of the Western Reserve (East of the Cuyahoga River) opened for settlement with the signing of the Treaty of Green Ville (Greenville) in 1795. The treaty was the result of General "Mad" Anthony Wayne's victory over the Confederation of Indian Tribes in the 1794 Battle of Fallen Timbers. The western portion of the Reserve was surrendered in 1805 by treaty and Euro-American settlement of these lands began almost immediately thereafter.