GLCEventDeSoto Visits ArkansasSunflower LandingCNoteDeSoto and his army marched through Arkansas, both fighting with the Native People and enjoying their hospitality as they went.VAshmore, Harry S. Arkansas: A Bicentennial History. New York: WW Norton, 1978. p. 4-5.+France Claims Arkansas as Part of Louisiana^Chevalier de LaSalle came from France and eventually reached the Indian Villages on the Arkansas River. He took possession of all country drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries and conferred upon the country thus claimed the name of Louisiana, in honor of his French King.\http://home.mpinet.net/sybert/sfrancis/Arkhis.htm Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001.First Permanent Settlemente Arkansas PostThe first permanent European settlement was founded at Arkansas Post by the Frenchman Henri de Tonty on the Arkansas River south of present day DeWitt.Nhttp://geneasearch.com/facts/ar.htm Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.The Mississippi Bubble Arkansas PostA Scottish promoter, John Law, sold the French government a scheme to populate and thus maintain control of Arkansas Post. He intended a settlement of 6,000 white Europeans and 3,000 slaves. Many who responded to his advertisements died of epidemics during the crossing of the Atlantic. Those who survived, arrived to find that Law had fled back to France. Most ended up settling in an area near New Orleans.SAshmore, Harry S. Arkansas: a Bicentennial History. New York: WW Norton, 1978 p. 7. Code NoirlEarly black settlers cleared land, built forts and roads, and fought Indians alongside their white masters. Blacks and whites often ate together, but black life was subject to strict rules known as the Code Noir or Black Code. Adopted by the French in 1724, the Black Code prescribed the treatment of black people from their clothing and feeding to religious instruction. Though some elements of the code were probably adapted to suit local custom, there were cruel provisions like whipping and branding as forms of punishment and rules prohibiting black people from gathering together without white supervision. Zhttp://www.aristotle.net/persistence/black.htm Taken from the Internet, Aiugust 21, 2001."Louisiana Territory ceded to Spain;The entire Louisiana Territory (which included Arkansas) was ceded to Spain, and Spanish governors offered free land and no taxes to encourage settlers to inhabit the area.http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/brief.html Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.Louisiana Returned to France rSpain officially returned the Louisiana territory West of the Mississippi to France by the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso to avoid the continued deficits the colony caused and the growing possibility that Spain might have to fight the restless Americans to retain control of the lands.http://www.uark.edu/~govninfo/PAGES/HISTORY/date.html Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001 and http://www.sec.state.la.us/around/brief/brief-2.htm Taken from the Internet, August 28, 2001.Louisiana PurchaseQvThe Louisiana Purchase was acquired by the United States, which meant that the land that would become Arkansas now belonged to the U.S.http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/brief.html Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.Arkansas Territory FormedVPrior to this, it was part of the Louisiana Territory, then the Missouri Territory. dhttp://www.geocities.com/Heartland/River/1800/arkgen.html Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette9The Arkansas Gazette was founded by William E. Woodruff when Arkansas was still a young territory. Half a century later the Arkansas Democrat came into being, born of the turbulent politics of the defeated, war-ruined South. The two newspapers competed until on Oct. 18, 1991, the Democrat purchased all the assets, including the subscription list of the Gazette, and renamed the combined newspaper the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette the next day. Today they survive and thrive as one -- the oldest continuously published newspaper west of the Mississippi. http://www.ardemgaz.com/info/history.html Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001 and Ashmore, Harry S. Arkansas: A Bicentennial History. New York: WW Norton, 1978. p. 18.Becomes a StateX7By 1836, the Arkansas Territory had the 60,000 residents required to become a state, and after writing an acceptable constitution, was declared the 25th state in the United States. The new state enjoyed a thirty year period of prosperity, and by 1860 had a population of 435,000, 25 percent of whom were slaves.www.50 states.com/statehood1/htm Taken from the Internet, July 16, 2001 and http://history1900s.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.sosweb.state.ar.us/brief.html Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.The Mexican WarMexicoTroops were raised to replace regulars who had been sent to the front. "While many Arkansans fought bravely the unit record was less than glorious." The end of the war hastened westward settlement of Arkansas and ultimately pushed the frontier westward.TAshmore, Harry S. Arkansas: a Bicentennial History. New York: WW Norton, 1978 p. 49.American Civil WarlSome of the biggest battles fought on Arkansas soil were: Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Arkansas Post, Helena, Poison Springs, Marks' Mills, and Jenkins' Ferry. 60,000 Arkansas men fought for the South,15,000 Arkansans joined the Union side. http://www.us-civilwar.com/ Taken from the Internet July 3, 2001 and http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/River/1800/arkgen.html Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001. SegregationIn 1868, the state established a segregated public school system. In 1891. Arkansas' General Assembly passed a bill requiring railroads to provide separate coaches for white and black customers. This was quickly followed by an election law that excluded black voters (and some poor white farmers) from the polls. No matter how vigorously blacks resisted the trend toward segregation, the nation's racial climate made it impossible to stop it. By 1900, black people had been mostly excluded from voting and access to public facilities.Yhttp://www.aristotle.net/persistence/first.htm Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001. Arkansas Readmitted to the UnionVA new constitution gave African Americans the right to vote and hold office. http://www.uark.edu/~govninfo/PAGES/HISTORY/date.html and http://www.slider.com/enc/3000/Arkansas_History.htm Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001.Oil Discovered El DoradoAThe discovery of oil in 1921 made it the oil center of the state.ahttp://www.slider.com/enc/17000/El_Dorado_Arkansas.htm Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001.#Arkansas Elects First Woman Senator^.>Hattie W. Caraway is elected by Arkansas to the US Senate. `http://www.uark.edu/~govninfo/PAGES/HISTORY/date.html Taken from the Interent, August 26, 2001.%First African American at U. Arkansas2EThe University of Arkansas became the first traditionally Euro-American University in the South to break the color barrier, when Silas Hunt, an Afro-American, enrolled in the University of Arkansas School of Law. lhttp://www.mhhe.com/socscience/education/sadker/sg/s-res/ecef.htm Taken from the Internet, August 21, 2001.De-segregationof Schools R Little Rock1As early as 1954, Little Rock had announced a policy of voluntary de-segregation of schools and had a plan to do this. Orval Faubus, Governor of Arkansas, tried to stop the process, called up the national Guard to prevent (perhaps invented) violence. President Eisenhower became involved and sent military forces to ensure de-segregation occurred. The troops remained for the entire school year. The courage of the African American children who entered Little Rock Central High School received national attention and they became known as the "Little Rock Nine".XAshmore, Harry S. Arkansas: a Bicentennial History. New York: WW Norton, 1978 p.149-152.WalMart+YRogers@Company founded with opening of first Wal-Mart in Rogers, Ark. ghttp://www.walmartstores.com/wmstore/wmstores/HomePage.jsp Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001.Bill Clinton Elected PresidentHopeG(William Jefferson Clinton), 1946-, 42d President of the United States.http://www.uark.edu/~govninfo/PAGES/HISTORY/date.html and http://www.slider.com/enc/12000/Clinton_Bill.htm Taken from the Internet, August 26, 2001.