Michigan made very slow progress in settlement and population up to 1820. From its first discovery, about 1610, until 1763,
the territory was claimed, or governed by the French. It was then ceded to Great Britain, and in 1783, at the close of the war
of the Revolution, was transferred to the United States. The British government, the violation of the treaty,
became possession of the military posts of the territory, and it did not come into actual American possession until July 11, 1796.
It was attached to the Northwest territory until 1802, Wayne, when, by act of Congress, that portion west of the east line of Indiana,
became a part of the Territory of Indiana. In 1805 the Territory of Michigan was constituted, with the provisions of the ordinance
of 1787 as its fundamental law. It included "all that part of Indiana territory which lies north of a line drawn east from the Southern Lane
bend or extreme of Lake Michigan, until its shall intersect Lake Erie, and east a line drawn from the said Southern Lane bend to the
middle of the said Lake to its northern extremity, and thence due north to the northern boundary of United States. In 1816 a strip of
land equal to 30 townships was taken from the southern portion of the territory, and he came apart of the state of Indiana.
In 1818 Congress increase the area of the territory, adding all piece of the Mississippi River in north of Illinois. In 1819 authority was
given to elect a delegate to Congress. The limits of the territory remained unchanged up to 1834, when all territory north of Missouri
and east of the Missouri and White Earth rivers were added to the territory of Michigan. It then comprised the area now occupied with
estates of Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, a large portion of Dakota. By the organization of Wisconsin territory in 1836,
and admission of Michigan into the union in 1837, the state was reduced to its present area.
Michigan�s Great Seal was designed by Lewis Cass, Michigan�s second governor. The seal was patterned after the seal of the Hudson Bay Fur Company. It was presented to the Constitutional Convention of 1835 and adopted on June 2, 1835 as the official Great Seal of Michigan. At the top of the Seal are the words, "E Pluribus Unum." These words come from the national motto meaning, "From many, one." Or, in other words, forming one nation from many states. Below is the American Eagle, the national bird. This symbolizes the superior authority and jurisdiction or control of the United States. In its claws the eagle holds three arrows and an olive branch with 13 olives. The arrows show that the nation is ready to defend its principles. The olive branch means we want peace. The olives stand for the first 13 states. "Tuebor," meaning, "I will defend," refers to Michigan�s frontier position. The shield is held by two animals representing Michigan, the elk on the left and the moose on the right. Michigan is on an international boundary, and the figure of the man shows his right hand raised in peace. The left hand holds a gun to say that although they love peace, they are ready to defend their state and nation. "Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice" means, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you." It is believed this refers to the Lower Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula was added in 1837, to pay for the loss of a strip of land on our southern border, given to Ohio when Congress made Michigan a state. The words, "The Great Seal of the State of Michigan, A.D. MDCCCXXXV," complete the State Seal. When you take away these words and border, this becomes the Coat of Arms of the State of Michigan. Changes in the Great Seal have been made from time to time. However, the present Seal has not been changed since 1911. No facsimile or reproduction of the Great Seal can be used in a manner unconnected with official functions of the state. (MCL 2.45) A person who violates any provision of the Great Seal Act is guilty of a misdemeanor (MCL 2.46).