Alabama State History – Native American, Civil War, Reconstruction, Flag

Native Americans

The land that is now Alabama was originally inhabited by two groups of Native Americans, the Cherokee and the Muskogee. The Muskogee Nation included the Choctaw, Creek, and Chickasaw. They were organized into clans such as bears and foxes. They lived in small villages in domed houses with thatched roofs. The Cherokee lived in northern Alabama.

Information about Alabama State

Flag of Alabama State:

Europeans Arrived

The first European to arrive in the area was the Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda in 1519. Other Spanish explorers arrived in his early 16th century, including Hernando de Soto in 1540. But the Spaniards were just looking for gold and didn’t settle.

Early Settlers

Fort Lewis, the first European settlement, was founded by the French in his 1702. In 1711 the fort was destroyed by a flood and the site was moved to its current location in Mobile, Alabama. In the 17th century, Europeans began migrating to Alabama to cultivate the land. Many of them came from France and Canada. Originally, most people settled around Mobile, leaving the rest of the country to Native Americans.

Alabama State Symbols

• Alabama State Nickname: Heart of Dixie
  
• Alabama State Slogan: Share The Wonder; Stars Fell on Alabama (on its license plate); (formerly) The Heart of Dixie
  
• Alabama State Motto: Audemus jura nostra defendere (We dare defend our rights)
• Alabama State flower: Camellia
• Alabama State bird: Yellowhammer aka Northern Flicker
  
• Alabama State fish: Largemouth bass (fresh water), Fighting tarpon (salt water)
  
• Alabama State tree: Southern Longleaf Pine
  
• Alabama State mammal: Racking horse
  
• Alabama State foods: Pecan, Blackberry

Fighting over the Land

Alabama remained under French control until 1754 when the French and Indian War broke out between Britain and France. The native Indians did not want the British to occupy their land, so they sided with the French. However, the British won the war and seized control in 1763. After the War of 1812, Alabama changed jurisdiction again when it became part of the United States. In 1817, the U.S. Congress established the Alabama Territory with the city of St. Stephens as its first capital.

During the War of 1812, the Creek Indians sided with the British. American Andrew Jackson fought Creek and won. The Indians were then forced to sign a treaty giving up much of their land to the United States.

Becoming a State

Alabama became her 22nd state on December 14, 1819. The first capital was Huntsville. The capital then moved to other cities such as Cahava and Tuscaloosa, and finally he moved to Montgomery in 1846.

The Geography of Alabama

• Total Size of Alabama: 50,744 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)

• Geographical Low Point of Alabama: Gulf of Mexico at Sea Level (source: U.S. Geological Survey)

• Geographical High Point of Alabama: Cheaha Mtn. at 2,407 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Cleburne (source: U.S. Geological Survey)

• Central Point of Alabama: Located in Chilton County approx. 12 miles southwest of Clanton (source: U.S. Geological Survey)

• Counties of Alabama: 67 (source: National Association of Counties)

• Bodies of Water of Alabama: Gulf of Mexico, Tennessee River, Alabama River, Chattahoochee River, Coosa River, Weiss Lake, Martin Lake, Lewis Smith Lake, Walter F. George Lake

Slavery

Slaves were brought from Africa to help cultivate the land. Over the years, slaves have become an important part of the local economy. By 1860, 435,000 of the state’s 964,000 residents were enslaved.

Civil War

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, Alabama separated from the United States and joined the Confederate States of America. Several battles were fought in Alabama, including the Battle of Mobile Bay, the Battle of Fort Blakely, and the Battle of Selma. Alabama also sent soldiers and supplies to Confederate forces that were fighting in other parts of the country. After the war, slaves in Alabama were freed. The province was under military rule from 1865 to 1868 and was undergoing reconstruction until 1874.

Civil Rights

Although slaves were freed after the Civil War, African Americans still faced discrimination and segregation. A law known as the “Jim Crow Act” created separate schools, restaurants, and water fountains. Alabama became a center of the civil rights movement led by African Americans like Martin Luther King Jr. Major civil rights movements in the state included the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the Birmingham Movement, and the Selma to Montgomery March.

Famous Peoples of Alabama State:

Interesting Facts about Alabama State:

• Huntsville, Alabama is home to Space Camp and the world’s largest space museum.
• Montgomery, Alabama State was the Confederate capital.
• When George Washington Carver invented peanut butter, he was living in Alabama.
• The Wright brothers established the first flight school in Alabama.
• Fort Payne produces over 70 million pairs of socks annually. They call it the sock capital of the world.
• The first electric trolley was introduced in his 1886 in Montgomery.
• Baseball players Hank Aaron and Willie Mays were both born in Alabama.
• The largest cast iron statue in the world, “Vulcan”, is located in Birmingham. It’s 56 feet tall!
• The football game between the University of Alabama and Auburn University has him one of the biggest rivalries in any sport. The game is called Iron Bowl.

Timeline Overview:

Before 1500 – The country was inhabited by the Choctaw, Creek, Cherokee, and Chickasaw tribes.
1519 – Arrival of Spanish explorer Alonso Alvarez de Pineda.
1540 – Hernando de Soto arrives in search of gold.
1702 – The first settlement, Fort Lewis, is founded by the French.