Illinois Constitution- History of Illinois

Illinois Constitution

History of Illinois

Statistics:

Illinois - 21st state

Land and Water Area = 58,000 miles

Dimensions - 385 miles long and 218 miles wide

By the time the U.S. Constitution was being signed, our state was a wilderness. Early visitors described the area as a rolling prairie covered with tall grasses and woods.

The "discovery" of Illinois by whites took place in 1673 by the 2 French explorers, Marquette and Joliet. During the time between the discovery of Illinois and its admission to the union as a state, the French and English both controlled the area at times. French forts and communities sprung up in the Illinois wilderness. Fort de Crevecoeur was established near Peoria in 1680 followed in 1682 by Fort St. Louis on Starved Rock. One of the first white villages, Pimitouri, later called Peoria was established in 1691. Cahokia was organized in 1699 and Kaskaskia four years later.

Indian tribes of Illinois included the Miami, Illiniwek (Illinois), and Potowatomee Indians. Most were relocated westward later.

Defeated by England in the French and Indian War in 1783, France gave up its claim to its possessions east of the Mississippi River.

Illinois was established as a county of Virginia in 1778. In 1787 it became part of the Northwest Territory, in which it remained until 1800. In 1800 the territory of Indiana was established and Illinois became part of it. In 1809 Illinois and the present state of Wisconsin was made a territory. Kaskaskia was its capital and Ninian Edwards of Kentucky was the first territorial governor.

On December 3, 1818, Illinois was admitted as the 21st state. Kaskaskia was our first capital city and Shadrach Bond became the first governor.

The last great Indian uprising in Illinois was the Black Hawk War in 1832. Chief Black Hawk and his Sauk and Fox warriors defeated the white militia at Stillman's Run, but retreated into Wisconsin where the band was defeated.

The capital was moved from Kaskaskia to Vandalia and in 1839 the capital was moved to Springfield. Abraham Lincoln urged the selection of Springfield while he was a member of the state legislature.

Soon after Springfield was selected as the new capital, the state became divided on the question of slavery. Lincoln emerged from political retirement in 1858 to challenge Stephen A. Douglas, U.S. Senator, and the national policy on slavery, which he advocated. The eyes of the nation focused on the state as the two men engaged in their 7 historic debates. Although Lincoln lost the election in 1858 to Douglas, the campaign gave him national recognition. Two years later he won the Republican nomination for the Presidency and was elected the 16th President.

Information for this site was provided by:

https://www2.illinois.gov/

Adapted by

Joanne Burger

From work created by

Keith A. Finlayson