I've done a previous blog series showing a weird fact about each of the 50 states. This 5 part blog series highlights an important historical event in each of the 50 states—an event that has shaped that state's history for better or worse. In many cases, the event has had implications beyond the state's borders, with consequences for the nation and, in some cases, the world.
These events include political changes, armed conflict, legal rulings, tragedies, cultural shifts, economic upheavals, ecological episodes, and scientific breakthroughs. But all of them changed the destiny of a particular state. The important historical event for each state is a list I came across, I did not determine or select the specific events. I thought the list would make interesting information for my blog. I hope you enjoy it.
So, in alphabetical order with 10 states represented in each of the 5 blog posts, here are the historical events. Today's blog post covers Alabama through Georgia.
1. Alabama
Event: Selma-to-Montgomery march
Year: 1965
Location: Selma to Montgomery
The 54-mile march from Selma to Montgomery was an effort to
register African American voters in Alabama. Marchers were attacked by local
police and those opposed to equal voting rights. The incident was broadcast on
television, and it horrified the nation. Eventually, the marchers received
protection from the National Guard. After three days they reached Montgomery.
That August, Congress passed the Voting Rights Act that guaranteed the vote for
African Americans.
2. Alaska
Event: Exxon Valdez oil spill
Year: 1989
Location: Prince William Sound
The Exxon Valdez oil tanker crashed into a reef in the
Prince William Sound. The hull was pierced and more than 10 million gallons of
oil spilled into the water. The problems were compounded as a storm spread the
oil even farther across Alaska's Southern coast. As a result, thousands of
animals died and hundreds of miles of coastlines were polluted. Much of the
coast is still damaged today. The Exxon Valdez spill is now known as one of the
most environmentally damaging events in history.
3. Arizona
Event: Grand Canyon National Park opened
Year: 1919
Location: Northern Arizona
The Grand Canyon is one of the world's most impressive
landscapes. In 1919, the U.S. government declared it a national park. The
canyon is 277 river miles long, 18 miles wide at its widest point, and one mile
deep. The canyon is famous for its colors and ancient rock formations that tell
the geological story of the North American continent. Nearly five million
people visit the park each year.
4. Arkansas
Event: Desegregation of Little Rock schools
Year: 1957
Location: Little Rock
Even though the Supreme Court ruled school segregation
unconstitutional in 1954, segregation remained in effect in many areas with
fierce opposition to the ruling. When nine black children attempted to attend
classes at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, Gov. Orval Faubus used
the Arkansas National Guard to stop them from going to class. The Little Rock
Nine were unable to go to class until President Dwight Eisenhower sent federal
troops to enforce the ruling. The students attending a previously all-white
high school, despite the racial abuse they endured, proved to be a pivotal
moment in the civil rights movement.
5. California
Event: Gold Rush
Year: 1849
Location: Sutter's Mill
James Marshall, a carpenter from New Jersey, discovered bits
of gold in the American River near Sutter's Mill (an area that is now part of
Sacramento, California). This discovery set off one of the greatest gold rushes
of all time. Miners took about $2 billion worth of gold during the California
Gold Rush. California's non-native population grew from about 800 in early 1848
to 100,000 by the end of 1849. The gold rush fast-tracked California's
admission to the Union, and it became a state in 1850.
6. Colorado
Event: Legalization of marijuana
Year: 2012
Location: Statewide
Nationwide support for marijuana legalization has slowly
increased since the 1970s. One of the biggest victories for cannabis advocates
came in Colorado in 2012 when the state voted to legalize it for recreational
consumption for anyone over 21. Previously, states only allowed medical
marijuana which required a prescription from a doctor. This law is in direct
violation of federal laws banning marijuana, but there has so far been no federal
crackdown. Both Colorado and Washington State voted to legalize marijuana on
election day in 2012. Colorado was a bit quicker in drafting rules to sell it,
so it is considered the first state to legalize marijuana.
7. Connecticut
Event: First colonial constitution
Year: 1639
Location: Hartford
Connecticut adopted the first colonial constitution in 1639,
about 150 years before the United States Constitution was ratified. The
document was titled Fundamental Orders.
Written mostly by lawyer Roger Ludlow, it outlined a framework of government
that placed the well-being of the community above that of the individual. The
document conveyed the notion that the basis for authority originated from the
"free consent of the people." This document paved the way for the
U.S. Constitution. Connecticut is still known as the "Constitution
State".
8. Delaware
Event: First state to join the U.S.
Year: 1787
Location: Statewide
Known as "The First State," Delaware was the first
of the original 13 states to ratify the Constitution, making it the first
member of the United States of America. Even though some states were somewhat
skeptical of this new document, Delaware's delegation voted 30-0 to unanimously
ratify it on Dec. 7, 1787. Other states in the Constitutional Convention were
much slower to adopt the Constitution. Virginia and New York held out until
1788; North Carolina refused to sign before the Bill of Rights was introduced
in 1789; and Rhode Island became the last of the 13 states to approve the
Constitution in 1790.
9. Florida
Event: Launch of Apollo 11
Year: 1969
Location: Cape Canaveral
Neil Armstrong and Eugene "Buzz" Aldrin were the
first humans to set foot on the moon, and Apollo 11 got them there. They lifted
off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral (then called Cape Kennedy)
on July 16, 1969. Cape Canaveral became the site for space launches because
rockets taking off from an East Coast location got a boost from the Earth's
spin. The launching facility was located near the ocean in case of accidents.
10. Georgia
Event: Trail of Tears
Year: 1831
Location: Statewide
The forced removal of Native Americans from their homelands,
known as the Trail of Tears, took place across several Southern states.
However, it is particularly connected to Georgia as the state was involved in
two influential court cases that set the stage for the removal. Cherokee Nation
v. Georgia and Worcester v. Georgia affirmed that the indigenous tribes could
operate as sovereign nations. However, President Andrew Jackson ignored the
rulings. From 1831 to 1840, tens of thousands of Native Americans were
relocated west. Thousands did not survive the trip.
Next week on part 2 of 5 of my Important Historical Events In Each State blog series, I'll cover Hawaii through Maryland.
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