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Free Traveling Guides » States » Illinois History of Illinois
The State of Illinois, the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state, was the 21st state to be admitted to the Union of the United States of America. The Illinois River was explored by French explorers, Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette, in 1673. Thereafter, Illinois became a part of the French Empire. It was in 1763 that the region was handed over to the British. George Rogers Clark claimed the Illinois Country for Virginia in 1778. The area was ultimately relinquished by Virginia to the new United States in 1783 and was made a part of the Northwest Territory. Initially, mush of Illinois was claimed by the Illinois-Wabash Company. On February 3, 1809, the Illinois Territory was established, with its capital at Kaskaskia. Illinois was then added to the Union as the 21st U. S. State in 1818. In the year 1819, the capital of the state was moved to Vandalia. The Black Hawk War Indians attempted to return to the State in 1832, but were defeated and forced back to Iowa. Another major event in the history of the State is the winter of 1830-1831, which is popularly referred to as the “winter of the Deep Snow”. The adverse weather experienced by the state in 1836 resulted in crop failures in the northern part and loss of several lives. The state also served the Union Army during the American Civil War. In the 19th century, there was an immense growth of mines and factories in the State. Illinois played an integral role in the formation of the Labor Unions in the United States. The major historical events in the development of the American labor movement were the Pullman Strike and the Haymarket Riot. Illinois emerged as one of the most powerful and prosperous state in the 20th century. A major event was the Century of Progress world’s fair, which was held at Chicago in 1933. Besides, oil strikes in the Crawford County and the Marion County led to a boom in 1937. In fact, Illinois was ranked 4th in the U. S. oil production in 1939. After World War II, the first experimental nuclear power generating system in the nation was activated by the Argonne National Laboratory, situated near Chicago. The Saint Lawrence Seaway opened in Chicago in 1959, making the city an important ocean port. The first McDonald’s franchise was established in Des Plaines by Ray Kroc, in 1960. The 1870 constitution was replaced by a new version, authored in 1970 by the sixth constitutional convention. Other important events in the history of the state included the first Farm Aid Concert held in Champaign in 1985 and the Great Flood of 1993, which inundated thousands of acres of farmland.
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