Illinois History

The Heartland Part IFirst Explorers through The British

Arrive

Louis Jolliet & Jacques Marquette

• The first white men to make a written record of Illinois

• Marquette was a Jesuit priest & able to speak 6 Indian languages

• Jolliet was a 28 year old surveyor

Samuel de Champlain

• Est. the first French colony in 1608, called Quebec

The Northwest Passage

• Europeans were consumed with finding a water route to the Pacific.

• Wanted to reach India for the gold, silks, & spices.

Marquette & Jolliet

• May 17, 1673, they left out from the mission at St. Ignace

• Canoes• They made it to the Miss. River• Turned around at the Arkansas River

St. Ignace

Wisconsin River

River Routes in Illinois

Returning Home

• They spotted the Piasa Bird painted on a bluff near Alton, IL.

• Made friends w/ the Kaskaskia Indians– Father Marquette returned in 1675 to have

Easter services w/ the Kaskaskians.– Marquette later died at the age of 37 near

Ludington, MI.

The Piasa Bird

Jolliet

• His canoe flipped near Montreal & he lost all of his records on IL.

• Marquette’s were the only ones left from the trip.

Frenchmen, Forts, & Failures

Rene-Robert Cavalier sieur de LaSalle

• We’ll just call him LaSalle• Started exploring at 23

Henry Tonti

• LaSalle’s partner• Iron Hand

– Battle in Italy• In charge of Fort Crevecoeur

– Broken Heart– LaSalle left to get ship building materials

Broken Heart

• LaSalle traveled 1,000 miles to Canada in 65 days.– Fort Frontenac on the North shore of Lake

Ontario.

Broken Heart

• Mutiny against Tonti• Fort destroyed

The Founding of Louisiana

• LaSalle found Tonti living w/ the Illini Indians– Under attack by the Iroquois

• Traveled down the Miss. River• The first European to see the mouth of

the MS. River– Named the land after the King of France –

Louisiana

The Rock

• No not Alcatraz• LaSalle & Tonti return to IL & build a

fort on Starved Rock– Fort St. Louis– To be the capital of LaSalle’s French

empire• France closed all forts in IL except Ft.

St. Louis– LaSalle went in 1683 to change their minds

French Colony

• LaSalle convinced the French to Est. a colony in Louisiana.

• The colonists landed in Texas & could not find the Miss. R.– The colonists murdered LaSalle while

looking for the Miss. R.• 43 years old

Tonti’s Search

• Some colonists made it to Starved Rock & told Tonti of LaSalle’s death.

• Tonti tried to find his friend but was unsuccessful. – Returned to Ft. St. Louis.

Fort Pimitoui

• Tonti built Ft. Pimitoui near Peoria in 1692.– Tonti’s trade was revoked by France

• Moved to Biloxi, MS.• Died in Mobile, AL of Yellow Fever

French Villages in Illinois

French Villages in IL

• The oldest interior settlement in the U.S. is Cahokia.

• The first permanent settlement in IL is Cahokia.

• Kaskaskia was settled in 1703 & a major commercial center.

• Both were Est. by Jesuit Priests

The Mississippi Bubble

• 1714, John Law wanted to start a colony in IL.– Failed by 1720

Fort de Chartres

• Slaves were brought to IL to work in the mines.– Galena & St. Genevieve, MO

• The fort was originally constructed of logs & later rebuilt w/ stones.

• Located 15 miles North of Kaskaskia• Strongest French military fort in the

West

Prairie du Rocher

• Built near Fort de Chartres• The 3rd most important village in IL

• Agriculture under the French became a lucrative business.– Sent down the Miss. R. on barges

The British Arrive

French & Indian War

• 1750 French troops move into the Ohio River Valley

• Lt. Gov. Robert Swindle of VA sent a 21 year old militia leader to order the French to leave.

• French intend to hold the area.• 2nd group of VA militia go to the fork and

build a small fort.

French & Indian War• April 1753, the

young militia leader is sent into the ORV with 150 men.

• Encounter a small squad of FR. troops

• Attack & retreat to build a small fort

• Over 600 Fr. Troops and 100 Am. Ind. Attack the small fort.

• The VA. Militia surrender and are sent back to Williamsburg on July 4, 1753.

The French & Indian War

• Fighting between France & Great Britain (1754 – 1763)– Also called the 7 Years War in Europe– British won on both fronts

• 1763, the Treaty of Paris was signed ending the war – France lost all of its territory east of the

Miss. R.

Pontiac’s Resistance

• Pontiac led Indians against the British & prevented them from occupying IL for 2 years.

• 1765, Pontiac makes peace w/ the British.

Captain Thomas Stirling• The Black Watch

Regiment take control of Fort de Chartres on Oct. 10, 1765.– The Fleur-de-lis

was lowered & the British Union Jack was raised.

Leaving The West

• By the 1770’s the British started sending troops east to deal w/ the colonists.

• Test on The First Explorers through The British Arrive.

The French and Indian War

George Rogers Clark

The American Revolution in Illinois

George Rogers Clark

• The George Washington of the West.

• Moved to Kentucky in 1772

Settlers in Kentucky

• Settlers in KY were under constant attack by Indians.

• Clark was a Major in the militia & fought to keep the settlers safe.

Henry The Hairbuyer

• Clark found out that the British were rewarding the Indians for attacking the settlers.

• Lieutenant-Governor Henry “The Hairbuyer” Hamilton was paying Indians for the scalps of the settlers

Raiding Party 1778

• Clark received funds from Virginia to raid IL.– Kaskaskia, Cahokia, & Vincennes

• Plans called for 500 men - Clark only had 178

• Left the Louisville area & got off the Ohio at Ft. Massac

• Walked to the Kaskaskia River

This is the location from which Clark started his expedition to Illinois.

Joe’s CrabbShack

July 4, 1778

• Clark crossed the Kaskaskia River into Kaskaskia.– Took the town w/out firing a shot.

• Clark continued on to Cahokia & captured it too.

Vincennes

• Major trading post connecting Detroit & the Miss. River.

• Waded through the flooded fields covered by ice

• Able to get the people to declare loyalty– Trouble w/ the Indians

• Eventually gained control of Vincennes

The Seige of Ft. Sackville• Feb. 23, 1779,

Clark attacked the fort for 18 hours.

• During a short truce a group of the Indian raiders were captured outside of the town.

• Those with scalps were taken to the front gate of the fort & tomahawked to death in sight of the British

• The next morning (25th) at 10 AM the British surrendered the fort to Clark & his men.

• Clark’s actions during the American Revolution prevented IL from being part of Canada.

DuSable, Chicago’s First Citizen

Chicago’s 1st Citizen

• Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable• From Santo Domingo to Peoria then on to

Chicago.• Built a trading post • Eventually, he sold out and moved to St.

Charles, MO.

Opening The Northwest Territory

The NW Ordinance of 1787

• Terr. would have a Gov., Sec., & a 3 judge court.

• 3 to 5 states could come from the NW Terr.

• 5 states were created & IL was the 3rd

• Cincinnati was the western base of operations.

The NW Ordinance of 1787

• Terr. would have a Gov., Sec., & a 3 judge court.

• 5,000 adult males owning 50 acres– Could elect a House of Representatives

• No Slavery• 60,000 in Pop. made it possible for

statehood

General Mad Anthony Wayne

• Defeated the Indians at the Battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794.

Captain John Whistler

• In charge of building Ft. Dearborn in 1803– Good duty station & many men re-enlisted

to stay there• Father of Chicago• His Grandson was James Abbott

McNeil Whistler- Whistler’s Mother• Named after Henry Dearborn

The Fort Dearborn Massacre

Start of the War of 1812

• Great Britain was impressing American sailors at sea.

• Little known British law• U.S. declares war June 18,1812.• President James Madison

The War of 1812

• In 1812, Tecumseh was the leader of the Shawnee Indians.– Sided w/ the British

• The new commander of Ft. Dearborn was Capt. Nathan Heald.

Leave The Fort

• Ordered to abandon the fort by Gen. William Hull.

Hull

Relief

• Support arrived from Fort Wayne, IN., led by his wife's uncle, Captain William Wells.

• Previously wounded in the Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794. Wells

Captain William Wells

• Son-in-law of Chief Little Turtle of the Miamis

Little Turtle

The Massacre

• Heald destroyed everything that was not needed.

• They had traveled 1½ miles before the Indians attacked– More than 55 whites were killed – Heald & his wife were eventually able to

escape.

• August 15, 1812

Rebekah’s Ordeal

• Her uncle William Wells rode ahead, turned, and circled his hat.– She interpreted this to mean they were

surrounded.• His horse was shot falling on top of him

– Shot and scalped• Heart cut out and rubbed in Rebekah’s

face.

Rebekah Heald

• The wife of Captain Nathan Heald.

• Shot 6 times • Called Anawarna

meaning Wild Carrot• She was captured

and eventually escaped.

Eleanor’s Life

• Captured at 9 by Seminole Indians• Ransomed at age 13• Married at 14 and widowed at 24 with 3

children & another on the way.• Married John Kinzie & lived in the former

house of DuSable.

John & Eleanor Kinzie

Kinzie’s Escape

• John & Eleanor with their family escape the massacre by going up the Chicago River.

Juliette Gordon Low

• The Great Granddaughter of John & Eleanor (Lytle) Kinzie

• She preferred to be called, “Daisy”

• Founded the Girl Scouts on March 12, 1912.

The Movement for Statehood

Daniel Pope Cook

• Leader in the movement for statehood.• Part owner in the first newspaper (Illinois

Herald, later renamed Illinois Intelligencer)• Appointed first Auditor of Public Accounts

by Territorial Gov. Ninian Edwards.• Appointed Clerk of the Territorial

Legislature.

Nathanial Pope

• Delegate to Congress for Illinois Territory• Daniel Cook’s uncle• Promoted bill in the House of Rep.

outlining steps for statehood• Amendment to the bill extended northern

border 41 miles (Chicago and 16 counties)

• Population requirement dropped from 60,000 to 40,000

• Bill passed and signed by Pres. Monroe• Statehood pending census and a

constitution

Census Fraud

• After first count, Illinois had 34,620.• Supplemental census netted 40,258.• Counts, recounts and estimates were

used.• Count was accepted by Congress.

Free or Slave State

• NW ord. called for no slavery.• Many Illinois settlers had southern roots

and owned slaves.• Convention was divided.• Current slaves could be kept but no new

slaves were to come in• Illinois would be a free state with some

slaves “grandfathered” in.

Statehood

• Congress passed resolution on statehood.• Pres. Monroe signed the resolution.• Illinois became the 21st state on December

3, 1818.

The Capitals of Illinois

• 1818 Kaskaskia- first state capital– Flooding was a problem– Congress intervened

• 1819 Vandalia- second capital– Site of the first statehouse– Uninhabited region– Poor accommodations.

• 1837 Springfield- third capital– Donated the town square– Pledged $50,000

Elijah P. Lovejoy

Early Life

• Born in Maine• Puritan family• Walked from Maine to Hillsboro, IL in

1827• Moved to St. Louis & started a private

high school

Return to the East

• Attended Princeton Theological Seminary to become a Presbyterian Minister.

• Returned to St. Louis• Became the editor of a Presb. paper

called the St. Louis Observer– 1833

“Controversial” Views

• Lovejoy was mainly against slavery.• The problem was MO. was a slave

state.• People broke into the Observer &

damaged his press.• Lovejoy was threatened so he moved to

Alton, IL.

Arrival In Alton

• People from St. Louis came over and dumped Lovejoy’s press into the Miss. River.

• The people of Alton bought a new press, to show they were not like the people in MO.

The Depression of 1837

• Alton’s economy suffered & they blamed Lovejoy for their woes.

• The people of Alton destroyed the press they had purchased for Lovejoy.

• Lovejoy purchased a third press & it was destroyed.

• A fourth press was ordered.

Defense of the Fourth Press

• Lovejoy & a few friends guarded the warehouse where the 4th press was located.

• A member of the mob was shot.• The warehouse was set on fire.• Eventually, Lovejoy appeared & was

shot & killed.

New Towns

Shawneetown, Galena, & Chicago

Shawneetown

• Named after the Shawnee Indians• Largest town in IL in 1818

– 30 cabins, taverns, bakery, & a federal land office

• Located between the Walbash & the Ohio Rivers.

• Stopping point for people to get supplies before heading West.

Growth in Shawneetown

• Only federally planned city other than Washington, DC– Fed. planned because of the salt mines.

• One of the first banks in IL– Competitor w/ the St. Louis banks

Brush with Chicago

• Started in 1817 & closed in 1823• People from Chicago came to

Shawneetown hoping to get money to develop their small trading post.

• They were turned down because, “Chicago would never amount to anything.”

Galena

• NW part of IL by the Miss. R. • Settled in 1823• Moses Meeker started mining lead.

Chicago

• Started as small trading post. • The Erie Canal made shipping easier &

led to the development of Chicago.• 1833, given a village charter• Grew until the 1871 fires

– Became a thriving modern city when rebuilding

The Mormon Experience: Nauvoo

The Mormon Experience: Nauvoo

• Joseph Smith founded the religion in 1830.

• Angels gave Smith golden tablets containing The Book of Mormon.

• Felt the Indians were the lost tribe of Israel.– Jesus had visited them after his

resurrection.

Beliefs

• Abstain from alcohol, tobacco, & caffeine

• Extra wealth was given to the church• Against slavery• Practice polygamy

History

• Started his religion in Kirtland, Ohio• Moved to Independence, MO.• Anti-slavery views were causing

problems• 1839, they were forced out of MO.

Illinois• Purchased land near Commerce, IL.

Hancock County

Illinois

• Called their town Nauvoo meaning the city beautiful

• Homes made of brick• Est. the Nauvoo Legion

– Private Army 2nd only to the U.S. Army• Pop. of 12,000 by 1845

Trouble in Illinois

• 1844, a newspaper called Smith a fraud & dictator– The N. L. destroyed the paper

• Smith & his brother were jailed – Killed by a mob

The Mormon War

• Fighting lasted for 2 years• Prompted Brigham Young to seek a

new location for the Mormons.• Feb. 11, 1846 they left for the Great Salt

Lake Basin– Present-day Utah

1,000 Mile Trek

Education In Illinois

Education In Illinois

• Subscription schools started in IL• Spankings were common• One room school house• John Seeley started the first subscription

school in Monroe Co. in 1783.

Test Time

• Test over George Rogers Clark to Education in Illinois

The Black Hawk War