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French in Michigan French Settlements
It would not have been very much to their credit if they had been over-zealous before it was known that France would not be able to retain her old possessions ; and the treaty was not officially known in Detroit until some months after the siege began. It was the recognition by the French of their new allegiance that disconcerted Pontiac and destroyed his plans.
As Michigan was entirely beyond the range of the revolted American colonies, there was very little known sympathy with the United States during the revolution, although there were some indications of it. After the possession was secured by the United States, there was no disaffection among the French people. The first election of delegates to the Assembly of the Northwest Territory resulted in the choice, as one of them, of the Chevalier Chabert de Joncaire, who had served with credit in both the French and the English forces, and he was useful and respected. The training and habits of the older settlers had given them no knowledge of municipal government, and this was the main cause of colonial weakness; and it was long before they learned to take their part in political business.
Early Michigan
Page 27
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