Illinois History

The Heartland Part I

First 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