In addition, the state was home to several prisoner of war camps and Armmy and Navy hospitals. Alabama Name Meaning & Alabama Family History at It lies on the Chattahoochee River (dammed south of the city to form the Walter F. George Reservoir [or Lake Eufaula]), at the Georgia state line, about 90 miles (145 km) southeast of Montgomery. [66] Huntsville, in north Alabama's Tennessee River Valley, is the fastest growing metropolitan region of Alabama, that is home to one of the per capita most educated regions in the United States. The result was a reduction in both freight and passenger rates. The Sioux tribe is the source for the name of Missouri, according to Missouris Secretary of State. Prospects of an income from the banks led the legislature of 1836 to abolish all taxation for state purposes. Fitzgerald, Michael W. "Railroad Subsidies and Black Aspirations: The Politics of Economic Development in Reconstruction Mobile, 18651879. When West Virginia withdrew from Virginia in 1861 because it didnt agree with Virginias seceding from the Union, it considered the names, Kanawha, Vandalia, Augusta, Allegheny, New Virginia, and Western Virginia. But despite their political disagreement with Virginia, residents in the western half of the state still retained a fondness for the name. "Alabama". Compulsory education was opposed by working-class families who wanted their children to earn money, and who distrusted the schooling the middle class was so insistent upon. The principle Alabama villages were located in northwestern Tyler County near the Neches River. The name comes from the English Channel island of Jersey in honor of Sir George Carteret (one of the two men to whom the land of New Jersey was originally given). The Russians soldAlaskato the United States in 1867. Origin of Names of US States - Home | Indian Affairs The name New Mexico was given to the land ceded to the United States by Mexico after the Mexican-American War. The English eventually changed the spelling to Wisconsin, because thats what the Indian word sounded like to them. No one would blame Indiana for having an identity crisis back in its early days. Alabamas Archival Heritage, 1850-1985., Kennington, Kelly. [18] The history of Alabama's Native American peoples is reflected in many of its place names. During the agitation over the Wilmot Proviso, which would bar slavery from territory acquired from Mexico as a result of the Mexican War (1848), Yancey induced the Democratic State Convention of 1848 to adopt what was known as the "Alabama Platform". The Ceremonial Complex represents a major component of the religion of the Mississippian peoples; it is one of the primary means by which their religion is understood. Origins of all 67 By KELLY KAZEK W hen it comes to the number of counties within its borders, Alabama is fairly evenly divided: It ranks 20 th among states with the most counties at 67. They are believed to have migrated south at an earlier time from the Great Lakes area, based on their language's similarity to those of the Iroquois Confederacy and other Iroquoian-speaking tribes around the Great Lakes. As one of the largest slaveholding states, Alabama was among the first six states to secede from the Union. ninth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and the first state to have its own constitution. Its constitution provided for equal suffrage for white men, a standard it abandoned in its constitution of 1901, which reduced suffrage of poor whites and most blacks, disenfranchising tens of thousands of voters. Lauren is also an author of crime fiction, and her first full-length manuscript, "The Trust Game," was short-listed for the 2017 CLUE Award for emerging talent in the genre of suspense fiction. But from 1947 to 1965, Birmingham suffered "about 50 racially motivated bomb attacks. Tens of thousands of slaves were transported to and sold in the state by slave traders who purchased them in the Upper South. "Ambivalent Capitalists on the Cotton Frontier: Settlement and Development in the Tennessee Valley of Alabama. General Andrew Jackson was the commander of the American forces during the Creek War and in the continuing effort against the British in the War of 1812. Their diets were based primarily on plants, gathered and processed by women who learned about nuts, berries and other fruits, and the roots of many plants. By 1903 only 2,980 had managed to "qualify" to register, although at least 74,000 black voters were literate. Iron ore was mined from the Appalachian Mountains and shipped to the state's steel mills. Alabama joined the Confederate States of America, whose government was first organized at Montgomery on February 4, 1861. Many of the settlements de Soto encountered had platform mounds and villages fortified with defensive palisades with bastions for archers. The Republican Party by then was chiefly supported by African Americans. WebThe origin of the name Alabama is thought to come from a combination of two Choctaw words; Alba and Amo. History of Montgomery, Alabama - Wikipedia Lauren Cahn is a New Yorkbased writer whose work has appeared regularly on Reader's Digest and in a variety of other publications since 2008. The Alabama River was named by early European explorers after the Indian tribe that lived in the territory and first appeared in 1540 spelled as "Alibamu", "Alibamo" and even "Limamu" in the journals of the Spanish According to History.com, Ohio got its name from the Iroquois word, O-Y-O, which means great river. The nickname, the Buckeye State, refers to the local buckeye tree, whose fruit was believed by early native Americans to bear a striking resemblance to the eye of male deer. Wyoming became a territory in 1868 and a state in 1890. The frail Confederate railroad system faltered and virtually collapsed for want of repairs and replacement parts. [39] Reforms that were enacted included the corrupt practices act of 1915; the registration law of 1915; the direct election of U.S. senators; encouraging the establishment of commission government in the towns and cities; and the ratification of the 19th amendment to allow women the right to vote. These court decisions caused redistricting in many northern and western states as well as the South, where often rural interests had long dominated state legislatures and prevented reform. [5][6] As a result of African American disenfranchisement and rural white control of the legislature, state politics were dominated by Democrats, as part of the "Solid South."[7]. The Populist coalition had less success in the next campaigns. The Selma Naval Ordnance Works made artillery, turning out a cannon every five days. Before his November 1963 assassination, President John F. Kennedy had supported civil rights legislation. [23], In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act under the leadership of President Andrew Jackson, authorizing federal removal of southeastern tribes to west of the Mississippi River, including the Five Civilized Tribes of Creek, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Seminole (in Florida). The Mississippian culture arose as the cultivation of Mesoamerican crops of corn and beans led to crop surpluses and population growth. The Legislature approved his package, except for a provision that tried to forbid freight trains operating on Sundays. By 1925, the Klan was a powerful political force in the state, as urban politicians such as J. Thomas Heflin, David Bibb Graves, and Hugo Black manipulated the KKK membership against the power of the "Big Mule" industrialists and especially the Black Belt planters who had long dominated the state.[55]. ALABAMA: From an Indian tribe of the Creek Confederacy originally called the Alabamas or Alibamons, who in turn gave the name to a river from which the State name was derived. Following years of struggles, the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965 abolished segregation, along with African Americans being able to again exercise their constitutional right to vote. ALABAMA: From an Indian tribe of the Creek Confederacy originally called the Alabamas or Alibamons, who in turn gave the name to a river from which the State name was derived. Conflict between the various tribes in Alabama and American settlers increased rapidly in the early 19th century because the Americans kept encroaching on Native American territories. How did Alabama get its name? Also in the region were the Iroquoian-speaking Cherokee, from a different family and cultural group. pp. Maryland is named for a French-born queen of England: King Charles wife, Queen Henrietta Maria (a.k.a., Queen Mary). Total cost ran $5 billion, the largest foreign project in U.S. business history. Governor Lewis E. Parsons in July 1865 made a preliminary estimate of losses, which totaled that around the 122,000 Alabamian soldiers who served, around 35,000 died during the war. In 1972, the federal court required the legislature to create a statewide redistricting plan to correct the imbalances in representation in the legislature related to population patterns. Finally in 1914 a compromise was reached, in which the railroads accepted the reduced passenger rates, but were free to seek higher freight rates through the court system.[42][43]. In 1702 they founded a settlement on the Mobile River near its mouth, constructing Fort Louis. The state continued to be a focal point of the Civil Rights Movement, with organizations such as the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee remaining active in the state. The 1763 Treaty of Paris, which ended the Seven Years' War after France's defeat by Britain, resulted in France ceding its territories east of the Mississippi to Britain. Thats the key to understanding why Illinois is spelled that waydespite being pronounced Ill-in-OY. Middle-class reformers placed high on their agenda the regulation of railroads, and a better school system, with compulsory education and the prohibition of child labor. In May 1861, the Confederate government abandoned Montgomery before the sickly season began and relocated to Richmond, Virginia, the capital of that state. The state endorsed railway bonds at the rate of $12,000 and $16,000 a mile until the state debt had increased from eight million to seventeen million dollars. She covers life and style, popular culture, law, religion, health, fitness, yoga, entertaining and entertainment. Despite Birmingham's powerful industrial growth and its contributions to the state economy, its citizens, and those of other newly developing areas, were underrepresented in the state legislature for years. For example, Alabama Klansmen such as Hugo Black were among the foremost advocates of better public schools, effective Prohibition enforcement, expanded road construction, and other "progressive" measures to benefit poor whites. The rural white minority's hold on the legislature continued, however, suppressing attempts by more progressive elements to modernize the state. Why Is the University of Alabama's Football Team Called The mill now employs 2,700 workers. WebThe pace of Birmingham's growth during the period from 1881 through 1920 earned its nicknames The Magic City and The Pittsburgh of the South. [44] Prohibition was a favorite reform for Protestant churches across this entire country, and from the 1870s to the 1920s, Alabama passed a series of more restrictive laws that were demanded by the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) and other reform elements. [49], By the 1920s, the urban economy was largely based on manufacturing, with the production of cotton textiles, timber products, and iron and steel being the major industries. "Southern Disillusionment with the Democratic Party: Cultural Conformity and 'the Great Melding' of Racial and Economic Conservatism in Alabama during World War II,", Jett, Brandon T. " 'We Crave to Become a Vital Force in this Community': Police Brutality and African American Activism in Birmingham, Alabama, 1920-1945", Jones, Allen. A mining lobbyist claimed it was an Indian word that meant gem of the mountains, and hoped to name the territory that included Colorado accordingly. The Democratic Party still dominated many local and legislative offices, but total Democrat dominance had ended. "Vegetation gatherers" would be an apt description for the How Each US State Got Its Name They were noted for a spirit of frontier democracy and egalitarianism, but this declined after the slave society developed. ", Wiggins, Sarah Woolfolk. One explorer wrote the name Kansas on a map and after that, it just stuck. [12][13], Analysis of artifacts recovered from archaeological excavations at Moundville were the basis of scholars' formulating the characteristics of the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (SECC). Mills Thornton", Rudder, Justin A. The first recorded use predates 1689 when the area was referred to as the great kingdom of Texas by a Spanish explorer. The founding fathers began drafting the U.S. Constitution in the state, but that has nothing to do with the name. Eliminating the inefficiencies of the tax collection system helped a bit. [2][3] By 1941, a total 600,000 poor whites and 520,000 African Americans had been disfranchised. The French also colonized the region. ", Alabama saw moderate levels of warfare and battles, Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson State Historic Site, Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company, United States home front during World War II, Shuttlesworth v. Birmingham Board of Education, Armstrong v. Birmingham Board of Education, Smith v. Young Men's Christian Association, University of Alabama desegregation crisis, Tuskegee High School desegregation crisis, United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, "Woodland Period - Fort Smith National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)", "Geostat Center: Historical Census Browser", "Basteln Bastelanleitung Bastelanleitungen Bastelvorlagen Bastelideen", "Moundbuilders, North Georgia's early inhabitants", "Mound at Fort Toulouse Fort Jackson Park", "Late Mississippian/Protohistoric Ceramic Chronology and Cultural Change in the Lower Tallapoosa and Alabama River Valleys", Ordinances and Constitution of the State of Alabama, Historical Census Browser, 1900 US Census, University of Virginia, George Mason University, United States Election Project: Alabama Redistricting Summary, accessed 10 Mar 2008, Historical Census Browser, 1960 US Census, University of Virginia, CHANDA TEMPLE and JEFF HANSEN, "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets", State to close 5 parks, cut back services at driver license offices, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, History of the National Register of Historic Places, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=History_of_Alabama&oldid=1162108376, History of the Southern United States by state, Wikipedia articles incorporating a citation from the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica with Wikisource reference, Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 1911 Encyclopdia Britannica, Articles with dead external links from July 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0. Schweninger, Loren. In 1867, the congressional plan of Reconstruction was completed and Alabama was placed under military government. However, Wallace was no longer the segregationist. Orange Beach History They may have been related to the Utinahica of southern Georgia. Crisis locations in the Civil Rights era became tourist attractions. Cambridge University Press. Wisconsin was originally Meskonsing, which is the Native American name for the river (now called Wisconsin as well) that runs 430 miles through the state. They called it misi sipi,which translates to big water. If youre fond of state trivia, try this state nicknames quiz. "[62] Independent groups affiliated with the KKK bombed transitional residential neighborhoods to discourage blacks' moving into them; in 19 cases, they bombed black churches with congregations active in civil rights, and the homes of their ministers.[62]). B. Comer (18481927) was the state's most prominent progressive leader, especially during his term as governor (19071911). The name comes from the river, which got its name from the Native American communities that used it for transportation and food. As the war proceeded, the Federals seized ports along the Mississippi River, burned trestles and railroad bridges and tore up track. Trade with the Northeast indigenous peoples via the Ohio River began during the Burial Mound Period (1000BCAD700) and continued until European contact. In other parts of the state, the soil supported only subsistence farming. Despite some resistance in the northern part of the state, Alabama joined the Confederate States of America (CSA). European-American settlers were not supposed to encroach in that territory, but they soon did. The CSA set up its temporary capital in Montgomery and selected Jefferson Davis as president. The state voted for Democrat Al Smith in 1928, although he was Roman Catholic (a target of the KKK). They also created charitable public institutions, such as hospitals and orphanages, to benefit all citizens. This platform was endorsed by conventions in Florida and Virginia and by the legislatures of Georgia and Alabama. Alabama The South Appalachian Mississippian culture Big Eddy phase has been tentatively identified as the protohistoric Province of Tuskaloosa encountered by the de Soto expedition in 1540. These days, Alaskas willing to pay you $1,000 to moveand staythere. But just a year after the Louisiana Purchase, Fort Pierre was established by the Lewis and Clark expedition as South Dakotas first permanent American settlement. [15], The early historic Muscogee are considered likely descendants of the Mississippian culture along the Tennessee River in modern Tennessee,[16] Georgia and Alabama. English traders from Carolina frequented the valley of the Alabama River as early as 1687 to trade for deerskins with the Native American peoples. President Benjamin Harrison just shuffled the bills for both of the Dakotas and signed one at random. About 15% of deaths were from disease, more than the 10% from battle. ", Pearson, Joseph W. "A Conversation with J. Historians disagree over how Arizona got its name: One theory is that the name is derived from Papago tribal words meaning place of the young spring. Another theory is that the name derives from a Spanish word meaning good oak tree. The office of the governor notes that the written history of Arizona began in Spanish (when exploration parties ventured northward from Mexico). Rogers, William Warren, Robert David Ward, Leah Rawls Atkins, And Wayne Flynt. The French and the English contested the region, each attempting to forge strong alliances with Indian tribes. The States' Rights faction were in a minority; nevertheless, under their persistent leader, William L. Yancey (18141863), they prevailed upon the Democrats in 1848 to adopt their most radical views.[25]. The court ruled that, in addition to the states having to redistrict to reflect decennial censuses in congressional districts, both houses of state governments had to be based on representation by population districts, rather than by geographic county as the state senate had been, as the senate's make-up prevented equal representation. In 1926, Democrat Bibb Graves, a former chapter head, won the governor's office with KKK members' support. These cities had many industrial jobs, but the migrants also had to compete with new waves of European immigrants. The distance between the colonies and the home countries meant they could always operate with some freedom. WebPre-statehood U.S. Civil War Since 1900 Topics: African-Americans - Cities - Politics United States portal v t e Montgomery, Alabama, was incorporated in 1819, as a merger of two towns situated along the Alabama River. Cotton had added dramatically to the state's wealth. Thinking of where you want to retire? 16th Street Baptist Church had been a rallying point and staging area for civil rights activities in Birmingham prior to the bombing. Okla humma was a phrase in the Choctaw language that described the skin-color of Native Americans as a whole. The first Europeans to make The great Shawnee chief Tecumseh visited the region in 1811, seeking to forge an Indian alliance among these tribes to join his resistance in the Great Lakes area. In 1960 on the eve of important civil rights battles, 30% of Alabama's population was African American or 980,000. In 1629, King Charles I granted the territory to Sir Robert Heath; he named itCarolina. Mechanical cotton pickers became available in the postwar era, reducing the need for many agricultural workers. Some warriors from among the bands served with American troops. The protest nearly brought the city bus system to bankruptcy and changes were negotiated. The freedmen were enrolled as voters. Here are the geography mistakes were all guilty of making. Medical conditions were severe for all soldiers. By 1941 a total of more whites than blacks had been disenfranchised: 600,000 whites to 520,000 blacks. Progressive reforms cost money, especially for the improved school system. The black exodus escalated steadily in the first three decades of the 20th century; 22,100 emigrated from 1900 to 1910; 70,800 between 1910 and 1920; and 80,700 between 1920 and 1930. Street Names book tells history of Auburn and provides future Historians believe the tribe name is a portmanteau combining Alba (vegetation) and Amo (gatherer), which makes sense since Native Americans cleared a lot of the land in the state to grow vegetables. If you cant get enough of state history, dont missthese 50 facts about the 50 states. Some experts believe the name comes from the Wyandot tribal name for plain, in reference to the central plains of the state. [2], African Americans living in Alabama in the early-to-mid 20th century experienced the inequities of disfranchisement, segregation, violence and underfunded schools. The strange ways these Alabama towns got their names - al.com Its spirit of independence is epitomized in the state mottoLive Free or Die. It plays an important role in national elections, as it is the first state to hold national primaries, and its primary results are thought to influence those in the rest of the nation, giving rise to the saying As New Hampshire goes, so goes the nation.. WebScholars believe that the name has roots in the Choctaw language and is possibly translated to "vegetation gatherer," an apt name as the Alabama Native Americans were known to clear vegetation for agricultural purposes. Chief History They were unable to overcome male supremacy until the national movement passed the 19th amendment, granting women the right to vote in 1920. Delaware got its name way back in 1610 when explorer Samuel Argall, sailing from Virginia, saw what is now Cape Henlopen and called it Cape De La Warr in tribute to the first governor of Virginia, Thomas West, who was also the 3rd Baron De La Warr. William Garrott Brown, Albert James Pickett, Austin L. Venable, "William L. Yancey's Transition from Unionism to State Rights. but in 1843 the name was changed back to Eufaula. The name comes from the Spanish settlers who marveled at the snowy peaks (nevada translates to snow-covered). Alabama had few well-equipped hospitals, but it had many on the home front who volunteered to nurse the sick and wounded. By June 1, 1903, the number of registered voters had dropped to 1,081. Other slaves built defensive installations, especially those around Mobile. For some time, the Whigs were almost as numerous as the Democrats, but they never secured control of the state government. Hes the namesake of the township called Carteretin New Jersey. Dont forget to check out Burlington, as well as these other amazing places to retire around the world. JUNE 21 KEYSHAWN FIRED Maybe "fired'' seems harsh. The history of what is now Alabama stems back thousands of years ago when it was inhabited by indigenous peoples. Manufacturing also began to take hold in the state, with the establishment of cotton mills, sawmills, and other industries. Alabama's first nickname was the "Thin Red Line," another war reference which was used to describe Alabama teams, according to Alabama's website. The following graph shows the popularity of the term "Alabama Crimson Tide," according to the newspapers.com database. WebNewsletters Sponsors Community Contact Us About Tillmans Corner Q. By 1910 Alabama still lagged with 62 percent of its children in school, compared to a national average of 71 percent. Americans often interpreted great events in religious terms. By 1664, New Amsterdam fell into the hands of the British, who renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York. The British Crown defined the portion north of this line as part of the "Illinois Country"; the area west of the Appalachian Mountains was to be reserved for use by Native American tribes. We recommend our users to update the browser. When youre in Massachusetts, dont forget to check out the New England Trail, one of Americas most stunning hiking trails. Congress chose the name for the territory in 1861. [59] In the state's thirty-five Appalachian counties, twenty-one lost population between 1950 and 1960. By the Treaty of Versailles, September 3, 1783, Great Britain formally ceded West Florida to Spain. Georgia likewise claimed all the lands between the 31st and 35th parallels from its present western boundary to the Mississippi River, and did not surrender its claim until 1802. When French explorerRobert Cavelier, Sieur de La Sallediscovered the land, he called it by the name of the Native American tribe in the area: the Illiniwok. In 1787, during constitutional negotiations, South Carolina ceded this claim to the federal government. Often they pillaged the dead for boots, belts, canteens, blankets, hats, shirts and pants. How did the team get its colorful name and elephant mascot? By the Treaty of Madrid in 1795, Spain ceded to the United States the lands east of the Mississippi between 31N and 3228'N. Its provisions forbade the state to engage in internal improvements or to give its credit to any private enterprise, an anti-industrial stance that persisted and limited the state's progress for decades into the 20th century.[32]. Since the turn of the 19th century, development of large cotton plantations had taken place across the upland Black Belt after the invention of the cotton gin made short-staple cotton profitable. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. The next year Governor Robert M. Patton estimated that 20,000 veterans had returned home with permanent disabilities. The Southern capitulation in 1865 ended the Confederate state government, in which afterwards Alabama would transition into the Reconstruction era (18651877). Some idea of the current transportation patterns and severe internal logistic problems faced by the Confederacy can be seen by tracing Jefferson Davis' journey from his plantation in Mississippi to Montgomery. The Woodland period spanned from around 1000 BCE to 1000 CE and was marked by the development of the Eastern Agricultural Complex. In 1539 he made an arduous expedition along the Coosa, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers. He spelled it Illinois, as the French would. DAUPHIN ISLAND Most whites boycotted the polls and the new constitution fell short. Most soldiers were recruited locally and served with others they knew, which built esprit and strengthened ties to home. [8] In the early 21st century, Alabama's economy was fueled in part by aerospace, agriculture, auto production, and the service sector.[9]. Alabama [61], As Birmingham was the center of industry and population in Alabama, in 1963 civil rights leaders chose to mount a campaign there for desegregation. Tourist attractions such as Gulf Shores and Orange Beach drawing visitors from across the country. In 1991, a federal court ordered the state to redraw its congressional districts to ensure greater representation for African American voters.[63]. Many whites resisted postwar changes, complaining that the Republican governments were notable for legislative extravagance and corruption.