When addressing Indiana, particular emphasis must be given to the fact that it incorporates three main physical regions such as The Great Lakes Plains, the Tipton Till Plain, and the Southern Hills and Lowland region. As many historians report, this state was destined to become America’s agricultural centre (Neal). In the history of Indiana, law played a crucial role (Bodenhamer & Shepard 4).
By immersing into Indiana’s past, it comes to light that Native American tribes should be referred to as the first known inhabitants of the state. In concrete terms, Native American tribes can be noted with their invaluable contribution to constructing earthen mounds in Indiana. In regard to the state’s history, it dates back to 1676, when Rene-Robert Cavelier came across the region while being involved in his search of a water route. Subsequently, a number of French fur trappers started to extend routes south to Canada, which in turn brought Indiana closer to being fully settled and exploited, respectively. Despite the fact that hundreds of French settlers moved to Indiana, they failed to maintain control over the region under pressure from the British. Throughout the Revolutionary War, Americans managed to come into possession of the area. This resulted in Indiana having transformed into part of the region called the Northwest Territory.
To minimize the threat of Indian attacks, Corydon was given the status of the second municipality of the Indiana Territory. In 1815, the territorial general assembly ruled in favor of a petition for statehood. An Enabling Act constituted the major step towards writing the constitution that “established a modest but an effective framework for state and local government” (Carmony 1). Specifically speaking, it took delegates 19 days to draft the constitution. Six month later, President James Madison endorsed Indiana’s admission into the United States as the 19th state.
According to many historians, Indiana eventually became a state on December 11, 1816 as a result of a continuous military stand-off with Native Americans. Indiana turned to be the 19th state when President James Madison made his mark on the congressional resolution. With respect to Corydon, it continued to be the capital of Indiana until 1825, the time when Indianapolis was declared the municipality exercising the primary status in the state.
As previously mentioned, many immigrants settled down in Indiana throughout the early 19th century. Based on some reliable sources, Germans comprised nearly a half of all immigrants to Indiana. Americans who had British ancestry migrated from New England. The arrival of European immigrants worked towards the settlement of both northern and western Indiana to a great extent. Obviously, “these initial settlers altered the environment as they hunted and gathered” (Madison 7). Following the aforementioned events, Indiana underwent substantial rearrangements and gradually developed into a truly thriving state. It is not an exaggeration to say that the new government launched the campaign aimed at adding to the state’s power on a national scale. Indiana’s founding fathers made stress upon the construction canals and roads. More importantly, they created a platform for the development of and change in public school system. Though the projects to drive economic growth bankrupted Indiana, they inflicted a wise lesson with respect to how to handle challenges facing developing states. In response to economic setbacks that the following years of the government’s reign saw, it was decided to adopt a second constitution; as a matter of fact, this measure contributed positively to the economic situation.
In sum, it can be said with certainty that Indiana has a long and great history of its foundation. Today, the state represents a mix of opportunities for those reluctant to stay at the same professional and cultural level.
- Bodenhamer, David J, and Randall T. Shepard. The History of Indiana Law (Law Society & Politics in the Midwest). 1st ed. Athens, OH: Ohio University Press, 2006. Print.
- Carmony, Donald F. Indiana, 1816 to 1850: The Pioneer Era (History of Indiana). Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1998. Print.
- Madison, James H. Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2016. Print.
- Neal, Andrea. Road Trip: A Pocket History of Indiana. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society Press, 2016. Print.
