Lake County Gazette

On December 3, 1818, Illinois became the 21st state of the United States. This milestone is commemorated annually on Illinois Statehood Day. The region's history traces back to its original inhabitants, various Native American tribes including the Illiniwek, after whom the state is named.

European exploration commenced in 1673 with French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet claiming the area for France. Settlements such as Cahokia and Kaskaskia were established by the French in 1699 and 1703 respectively, serving as trade and missionary centers.

Control shifted following the French and Indian War when the Treaty of Paris in 1763 ceded Illinois to Britain. However, British rule was brief; post-American Revolution, another Treaty of Paris in 1783 transferred control to the United States. Initially part of the Northwest Territory, Illinois was later included in Indiana Territory by 1800.

The formation of Illinois Territory occurred on February 3, 1809, due to a growing population seeking localized governance. Congress separated it from Indiana Territory to form a new territory that included present-day Illinois, Wisconsin, and parts of Minnesota and Michigan. Kaskaskia was chosen as its capital.

Ninian Edwards became the first territorial governor, laying foundational infrastructure and legal systems necessary for future statehood. By August 1818, a constitutional convention held in Kaskaskia drafted Illinois’s first constitution. This document outlined governmental structure leading to President James Monroe signing a resolution admitting Illinois as a state on December 3rd that year.

Illinois faced early challenges despite its new status. The prairies' thick sod hindered agriculture until John Deere's steel plow invention in 1837 revolutionized farming practices. Additionally, debates over slavery persisted even though it was prohibited under the Northwest Ordinance; lax enforcement allowed some settlers to bring enslaved people into the territory. A referendum to legalize slavery failed in 1824 affirming Illinois as a free state.

Transportation development played a key role in growth with projects like the completion of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848 connecting Great Lakes with Mississippi River enhancing trade routes alongside expanding railroad networks transforming Chicago into an essential hub.

For further details about this period or subsequent historical events related to Illinois visit "the Illinois Historic Preservation Division’s History of Illinois Timeline."