[kosciusko51]

Chicago is on the Great Lakes, as is Detroit, Cleveland, etc., and would be part of Lib USSA.

As for other ports, well perhaps some Southeastern states on the Atlantic could work. But the headwaters should also be included.

[sbMKE]

Abandoning the Great Lakes is akin to handing off an oil field. No one would let their control go - there are already local municipalities fighting over Great Lakes water rights. A freshwater supply like that will only get more valuable as population grows.

[TheRightGuy]

Chicago is on the Great Lakes, as is Detroit, Cleveland, etc., and would be part of Lib USSA.

Chiago is ON the Great Lakes, but it drains into the Gulf Of Mexico ... not into the lakes. The flow of the Chicago River was reversed over 100 years ago.