Indiana Statehood - Timeline
The name of the author and the page number of the reference is in parenthesis. The full citations are available in the issue bibliography.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
1780 October 10 | Continental Congress passes "Resolution on Public Lands," which resolves to settle lands west of Appalachian Mountains and create future states (Patrick, 49, 54). |
1783 September 3 | Treaty of Paris signed, officially ends American Revolution, recognizes American independence from Great Britain (Carruth, 100). |
1785 May 20 | Land Ordinance of 1785 allows surveying and selling of land in Western Reserve (now in Ohio) (Carruth, 102). |
1787 July 13 | The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establishes, and provides a system of government for, Northwest Territory (Carruth, 102). |
1800 May 7 | Congress splits Northwest Territory into 2 territories: Indiana Territory and Northwest Territory (now Ohio, tip of southeast Ind., and part of Mich.) (Hawkins, 24-26). |
1800 May 13 | William Henry Harrison appointed governor of Indiana Territory; John Gibson, secretary; Henry Van der Burgh, William Clark, and John Griffin appointed judges (Goebel, 56-59). |
1801 March 4 | Thomas Jefferson 1st president inaugurated in Washington, D.C. (Carruth, 124). |
1803 February 19 | Ohio becomes 17th state (Carruth, 126). |
1804 August 4 | Harrison issues proclamation, calls for election to determine if voters want general assembly (Hawkins, 37-38). |
1804 December 5 | Harrison proclaims Indiana Territory advancement to 2nd stage of government, allowing general assembly (Hawkins, 39). |
1805 January 11 | Act by Congress divides Indiana Territory, creating Michigan Territory (Hawkins, 42-43). |
1808 February 26 | Suffrage Act of 1808 extends vote to those holding town lots with minimum value of $100; provision added to those of Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (Hawkins, 47). |
1808 December 7 | James Madison elected president (Carruth, 136). |
1809 February 3 | Congress passes act dividing Indiana Territory, creating Illinois Territory (Hawkins, 48-50). |
1811 March 3 | Suffrage Act of 1808 revised by Congress; any free white male, 21 years or older, who has paid a county or territorial tax and has resided 1 year in said territory may vote (Hawkins, 55). |
1811 December 11 | By a 4 to 3 vote, Indiana General Assembly petitions Congress for statehood; representatives Peter Jones of Knox, James Dill of Dearborn, and Richard Rue of Wayne oppose the petition sending with it their written objections--territory too small, population too scattered, and cost of a state government too expensive; petition denied but congressional committee would allow statehood when population reached 35,000; due to lack of money, territory did not pursue statehood (Barnhart and Riker, 413-14). |
1812 June 18 | War of 1812 begins; Americans fight British for control of American lands and shipping (Carruth, 144). |
1812 December 2 | James Madison reelected president (Carruth, 146). |
1813 March 11 | Indiana General Assembly passes State Capital Act, moving territorial capital from Vincennes to Corydon (Hawkins, 57-59). |
1813 September 29 | Harrison's troops take Detroit; British retreat to Canada (Goebel, 180). |
1813 October 5 | Harrison defeats British General Henry Proctor at Battle of Thames, Ontario, Canada; Tecumseh killed, destroying Indian resistance and British power in Northwest (Goebel, 181-83). |
1814 August 24 | Washington, D.C. captured by British (Carruth, 150). |
1814 December 24 | Treaty of Ghent ends War of 1812 (Carruth, 150). |
1815 December 11 | Indiana's General Assembly petitions Congress for statehood (Hawkins, 60-63). |
1815 December 28 | Jonathan Jennings, territorial representative to Congress, lays memorial for statehood before Congress; referred to committee, Jennings named chairman (Thornton, 109). |
1816 January 5 | Congressional committee for Indiana statehood reports bill to House of Representatives for citizens of Indiana Territory to form a constitution (Thornton, 109). |
1816 April 19 | President Madison signs Enabling Act allowing Indiana Territory to hold constitutional convention (Hawkins, 64-67). |
1816 May 13 | Election of delegates to constitutional convention which was scheduled to start June 10 (Hawkins, 64-67). |
1816 June 10 | Constitutional delegates (43) meet at Corydon to compose Indiana's state constitution; turn in certificates that they were duly elected; take oaths to U.S. and to discharge their duties faithfully ; elect officers with Jonathan Jennings, president, William Hendricks, secretary, Henry Batman, doorkeeper; assign committees to set up rules to govern convention; vote to form immediately constitution and state government ("Journal of Convention," 77-156). |
1816 June 11 | James Dill, delegate and lawyer from Lawrenceburg, reports 27 rules for government of convention ("Journal of Convention," 7-10). |
1816 June 12 | Delegates resolve to appoint 12 committees to form articles of constitution; employ at least two assistant secretaries; assign delegates to committees ("Journal of Convention," 11-14). |
1816 June 13-28 | Delegates work on preamble and articles of constitution ("Journal of Convention," 14-67). |
1816 June 28 | Contracts made for printing journal and constitution; payment of secretaries, doorkeepers ("Journal of Convention," 67-68). |
1816 June 29 | Convention adjourns ("Journal of Convention," 69). |
1816 August 5 | First state and county elections held after state constitutional convention adjourned (Esarey, 101). |
1816 August 5 | Jonathan Jennings elected 1st governor of Indiana; inaugurated November 7 (Barnhart and Riker, 460-61). |
1816 November 4 | Indiana holds first General Assembly under 1816 Constitution (Barnhart and Riker, 461). |
1816 December 2 | Indiana congressmen and senators present when U.S. Congress opens (Esarey, 101). |
1816 December 11 | President Madison approves Indiana's admission into union as 19th state (Hawkins, 95). |
1818 December 3 | Illinois becomes 21st state (Carruth, 158). |
1837 January 26 | Michigan becomes 26th state (Carruth, 200). |
1848 May 29 | Wisconsin becomes 30th state (Carruth, 230). |
1850 October 7 | Constitutional convention assembles in Indianapolis; 150 delegates serve 127 days; adjourns February 10, 1851 (Kettleborough, 1:221). |
1851 November 1 | Constitution takes effect; Indiana citizens vote August 4, adopting constitution 82, 564-26, 755 (Kettleborough, 1:222). |
1858 May 11 | Minnesota becomes 32nd state (Carruth, 258). |