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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.

YearEvent

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).