History of Illinois facts for kids

The history of Illinois tells the story of this important state, from ancient times to today. It covers different periods: when Native Americans lived there, when Europeans explored and settled, when it became part of the American frontier, its early days as a state, its growth in the 1800s and 1900s, and modern Illinois.

Ancient Times: Before Columbus

Cahokia, a big city built by the ancient Mississippian culture

Long ago, a huge city called Cahokia was built near what is now Collinsville, Illinois. It was the main city of the Mississippian culture. People built many burial mounds and mud structures in Southern Illinois. One giant mound, Monk's Mound, is as tall as the Pyramid of Giza.

This amazing earth-work was built around 1050 AD. It faced a city with over a hundred smaller mounds. Cahokia may have had 16,000 to 20,000 people. This made it the biggest city north of the Rio Grande until the late 1700s. Fields around Cahokia grew corn for the city dwellers.

This civilization disappeared around 1400–1500. No one knows exactly why. Maybe a big earthquake damaged Monk's Mound. Or perhaps they ran out of water due to cutting down too many trees. A period of global cooling, like a mini Ice Age, might have also caused food shortages.

Later, the Illiniwek Confederation became powerful. This was a group of several Native American tribes. The Illiniwek gave Illinois its name. In the 1600s, the Illini faced challenges from the Iroquois. The Iroquois were expanding to control the fur trade. Other tribes like the Potawatomi, Miami, and Sauk later replaced the Illini in Illinois.

European Explorers and Settlers

In 1673, French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet traveled the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers. Because of their journey, the Illinois Country became part of the French empire. But in 1763, it became British territory.

Then, in 1783, the area was given to the new United States. It became part of the Northwest Territory.

Becoming an American Territory

The Illinois-Wabash Company was one of the first groups to claim land in Illinois. In 1803, Fort Dearborn was built where Chicago is today. This was an early outpost for the United States in the west. The Illinois Territory was officially created on February 3, 1809.

Illinois Becomes a State

On December 3, 1818, Illinois joined the U.S. as the 21st state. Early American settlers moved into the southern part of the state. They quickly spread north, pushing out Native American residents. In 1832, some Native Americans returned from Iowa. But they were forced out again in the Black Hawk War.

Illinois is called the "Land of Abraham Lincoln". This is because the 16th U.S. President grew up here. Chicago grew important after 1848 as a port for lakes and canals. Soon after, it became a major railroad center. By 1857, Chicago was the biggest city in Illinois.

Slavery in Illinois

Illinois has a complex history with slavery and African Americans. The French had Black slaves from 1719 until the 1820s. The Northwest Ordinance was supposed to ban slavery. But this rule was not always followed. When Illinois became a state in 1818, there were about 900 slaves.

The southern part of Illinois, called "Egypt," had many settlers from the South. These settlers were often against free Black people. They also wanted to bring slaves for labor. People who supported slavery tried to make it legal. But Governor Edward Coles stopped them. He warned that rich slave owners would buy all the good farmland.

In 1823, a vote showed that 60% of people were against slavery. So, efforts to make slavery official failed. However, some slaves were still brought in for seasonal work or as house servants until the 1840s. The Illinois Constitution of 1848 allowed for laws to keep Black people out. In 1853, state senator John A. Logan helped pass a law to stop all African Americans, including freed people, from settling in Illinois. After 1865, Logan changed his views. He became a strong supporter of civil rights for Black people.

Latter Day Saints in Nauvoo

In 1839, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints built a settlement called Nauvoo. This city was on a bend in the Mississippi River. It quickly grew to 12,000 people. For a time, it was one of the largest cities in Illinois.

By the early 1840s, the Church built a large stone temple in Nauvoo. It was one of the biggest buildings in Illinois then. In 1844, Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, was killed in nearby Carthage, Illinois. This happened even though he was promised safety by the state's legal system.

In 1846, the Latter-day Saints, led by Brigham Young, left Illinois. They moved to what would become Utah. A small group stayed behind, but Nauvoo was mostly abandoned. Today, many buildings from the 1840s in Nauvoo have been restored.

Illinois During the Civil War

During the Civil War, over 250,000 men from Illinois joined the Union Army. This was the fourth-highest number of soldiers from any state. Illinois sent 150 infantry regiments and 17 cavalry regiments. They also sent two light artillery regiments.

One of the most famous soldiers was Ulysses S. Grant from Galena. Republicans were in charge of the state during the war. Governor Richard Yates was a strong leader. Some Democrats, called Copperheads, were against the war. They tried to stop the draft in some areas. In Chicago, Wilbur F. Storey used his newspaper, the Chicago Times, to criticize President Lincoln.

The 1900s: A Century of Growth

In the 20th century, Illinois became one of the most important states. Edward F. Dunne, a Chicago Democrat, was governor from 1913–1917. He was a leader in the progressive movement. Frank O. Lowden followed him as governor. Lowden was a Republican who helped with the war effort.

Later, Democrat Adlai Stevenson II was governor from 1948–1952. William G. Stratton led the state as a Republican governor in the 1950s. In 1960, Otto Kerner, Jr. brought Democrats back to power. He worked to improve the economy, education, mental health, and equal job access. Kerner later faced legal issues related to his time as governor.

Richard B. Ogilvie, a Republican, became governor in 1968. He worked to modernize state government. He supported a new state constitution and increased social spending. He also brought in Illinois' first state income tax. This tax was not popular. Ogilvie lost the next election to Democrat Dan Walker in 1972.

A new state constitution was written in 1970 and approved by voters. It updated the government and changed the political system. Walker did not remove the income tax. He faced challenges with the state legislature. Walker later faced legal issues not related to his time as governor.

In 1976, Jim Thompson, a Republican, won the governor's election. He was reelected several times. Thompson was followed by another Republican, Jim Edgar. Edgar focused on increasing education funding. He also worked to cut government spending and welfare programs.

Then came Republican George H. Ryan. He started a big project called "Illinois FIRST" to fix highways. FIRST stood for "Fund for Infrastructure, Roads, Schools, and Transit." This plan provided billions of dollars for schools, public transportation, roads, and other projects. In 1993, Illinois became the first Midwestern state to elect a Black person to the U.S. Senate, Carol Moseley Braun.

The 2000s: Modern Illinois

In 2003, Governor Ryan gained national attention. He changed the sentences of all 167 people on death row in Illinois. He believed the death penalty could not be given fairly. Ryan's time as governor was marked by problems. He was later convicted of legal issues and went to prison.

Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, was elected governor in 2002. He was the first Democratic governor in 25 years. Illinois was becoming more Democratic in elections. Blagojevich signed many new laws. These included ethics reform, changes to the death penalty, and expanding health programs. He also signed a bill in 2005 that stopped discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Blagojevich increased health care funding every year. He did this without raising sales or income taxes. But some said he was passing financial problems to the future by borrowing money. In December 2008, Blagojevich was arrested. He faced charges related to trying to sell a U.S. Senate seat. He was later convicted and went to prison.

Financial Challenges

Pat Quinn became governor on January 29, 2009, after Blagojevich was removed. Quinn was elected for a full term in 2010. As governor, he faced big budget problems and state debt. This was during a national economic downturn.

Quinn pushed for spending cuts and tax increases. He also tried to improve ethical standards. He worked to protect public worker unions and environmental rules. Illinois had a reputation for corruption. The two governors before Quinn had faced legal issues. By 2012, Quinn worried Illinois was "on the verge of a financial meltdown." This was because of rising pension and health care costs.

For decades, the state had not put enough money into its pension system for state employees. By early 2013, the main issue was still the financial crisis. Illinois was struggling to create jobs. In May 2013, state universities and colleges agreed to take on more of the pension costs. This was a step to help with the state's large debt.

Famous People from Illinois

Illinois has been home to many important people. Here are just a few:

• Jane Addams, a leader in social work.
• Louis Armstrong, a famous musician.
• Daniel H. Burnham, a well-known architect.
• Clarence Darrow, a famous lawyer.
• Stephen A. Douglas, a key political figure.
• Ulysses S. Grant, a Civil War general and later U.S. President.
• Abraham Lincoln, the 16th President of the United States.
• Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's wife.
• Joseph Medill, a newspaper publisher.
• Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States.
• Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement.
• Amos Alonzo Stagg, a famous sports coach.
• Adlai Stevenson I, a Vice President of the United States.
• Frances E Willard, a social activist and leader of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
• Frank Lloyd Wright, a very famous architect.
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee, an Olympic Gold Medalist in track and field.
• John Bardeen, a winner of two Nobel Prizes in physics.
• Richard J. Daley, a long-serving mayor of Chicago.
• Richard M. Daley, also a mayor of Chicago, son of Richard J.
• Enrico Fermi, a nuclear physicist.
• Vince Vaughn, a well-known actor.
• George Halas, a famous figure in American football.
• Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, an influential architect.
• William Shockley, a physicist who helped invent the transistor.
• Adlai Stevenson II, a politician and diplomat.

See also

In Spanish: Historia de Illinois para niños