(An Indian word, meaning “Here we rest” ), a Southern State of the
Union, the twenty-second in order of admission.
It lies between lat. 30° 15′ and 35° N., and between long.
84° 56′ and 88° 48′ W. from
Greenwich.
Its length north to south is 336 miles; its greatest breadth, 200 miles; area, 52,230 square miles.
Population, 1890, 1,513,017; 1900, 1,828,697.
Number of counties, sixty-six.
Capital,
Montgomery.
De Soto leads about 1,000 men from
Florida to the
Mississippi......1540
France claims all the
Mississippi Valley......1697
De Bienville builds
Fort St. Louis on the west side of
Mobile Bay......1702
Colony removed to present site of
Mobile......1711
Fort Toulouse built by French at the confluence of the
Coosa and
Tallapoosa rivers......1714
All the territory now
Alabama north of 31° and west to the
Mississippi ceded to
England by
France......1763
[
West Florida from 1764 to 1781 included much of the present territory of
Alabama and
Mississippi.
The British province of
west Florida was bounded by 32° 28′ N., while all
Alabama north of 32° 28′ was in the
British province of
Illinois.]
Spain declares war against
Great Britain......May 8, 1779
Don
Bernardo de Galvez, Spanish governor of
Louisiana, captures
Mobile......March 14, 1780
Great Britain cedes to the
United States all territory east of the
Mississippi except
Florida, the boundary of
west Florida being again fixed at 31° N.; and cedes
Florida back to
Spain by treaties of......1783
A treaty between the federal government and the
Chocktaw Indians confirming the cession of the territory obtained by the
British from that tribe......Jan. 3, 1786
Georgia claims to include by royal charter what is now
Alabama and
Mississippi, and creates Houstoun county out of part of
Alabama north of the
Tennessee River......1785
Spain claims
west Florida, 32° 28′ N., and occupies the territory, but relinquishes her claims north of 31° after tedious negotiations......March, 1798
This region from 31° to 32° 28′ N. lat., between the
Mississippi and the
Chattahoochee, is formed by Congress into the
Mississippi Territory......1798
Winthrop Sargent, of
Massachusetts, appointed by
President Adams first governor......1798
[Seat of government,
Natchez on the
Mississippi.]
Spanish garrison at Fort St. Stephen relieved by Federal troops......May, 1799
Washington county, comprising all east of the
Pearl River to the
Chattahoochee, formed by
Governor Sargent......June, 1800
First census of
Washington county, showing 733 whites, 494 negro slaves, and twenty-three free negroes......1800
[Mobile not included, being under Spanish rule.]
Congress provides a legislature for the
Territory......1800
President Jefferson appoints
William C. C. Claiborne, of
Tennessee, governor......1801
Georgia cedes to the
United States all between the 31st and the 35th parallels for $1,250,000......April 24, 1802
Congress extends the
Mississippi Territory to 35° N.......1804
Robert Williams, of
North Carolina, governor......1805
Madison county created......1808
David Holmes, of
Virginia, governor......1809
Baldwin county created......1809
The three counties in what is now
Alabama have 6,422 whites and 2,624 negroes......1810
Madison gazette started at
Huntsville......1812
United States forces occupy Spanish
west Florida, and the district east of
Pearl River and south of 31° N. is added to the
Mississippi Territory......1812-13
Spanish garrison at Fort Charlotte (
Mobile) surrenders to the United States forces under
General Wilkinson......April 13, 1813
First engagement in the war with the
Creek or
Muscogee Indians on
Burnt Corn Creek......July 27, 1813
[
271]
[The whites, under
Colonel Caller, repulsed.]
Fort Mimms, a stockade near the east bank of the
Alabama River (now
Baldwin county), is surprised at mid-day by 1,000 Creek warriors led by
Weatherford and the prophet
Francis.
There were in the fort 245 men with arms, and 308 women and children.
After a stubborn resistance till 5 P. M. they are overpowered—about fifty escape......Aug. 30, 1813
Battle of Tallasahatchie (now in
Calhoun county). The
Indians defeated by
General Coffee......Nov. 3, 1813
Battle of Talladega.
General Jackson defeats the Indians......Nov. 9, 1813
Capt. Sam Dale's “canoe fight” with
Indians......Nov. 12, 1813
Hillabee Town. Massacre of Indians by
General White.
This attack was made without the knowledge of
Jackson......Nov. 18, 1813
Auttose towns.
Indians defeated by
General Floyd and towns destroyed......Nov. 29, 1813
Econochoca or “Holy ground” Indians defeated by
General Claiborne......Dec. 23, 1813
Battles of Emuckfau and Enotochopco (now in
Tallapoosa county). The
Indians attack and are repulsed......Jan. 22-24, 1814
Calebee River. Indian attack repulsed by
General Floyd......Jan. 27, 1814
General Jackson, reinforced, attacks Indians fortified at Great Horse-shoe Bend (
Tohopeka) of
Tallapoosa River......March 27, 1814
[By this, the bloodiest battle of the war, the power of the Indians was destroyed.]
Indians by treaty cede to the
United States nearly half the present
State of Alabama......Aug. 9, 1814
General Jackson captures
Pensacola, Fla.......Nov. 7, 1814
Chickasaw Indians, by treaty, relinquish all claim to the country south of the
Tennessee for $65,000......Sept. 14, 1816
Territory east of what is now
Mississippi organized as the
Territory of Alabama......March 3, 1817
William Wyatt Bibb appointed governor by
Monroe......1817
Territorial legislature first meets at St. Stephens......Jan. 19, 1818
Congress authorizes
Alabama to form a State constitution......March 2, 1819
Convention at
Huntsville to frame a constitution conclude their labors......Aug. 2, 1819
First General Assembly at
Huntsville, forty-five representatives and twenty-two senators......Oct. 25, 1819
William W. Bibb chosen governor......Nov. 9, 1819
Joint resolution of Congress admitting
Alabama into the
Union approved by
President Monroe......Dec. 14, 1819
The seat of government removed to
Cahaba......1820
Act to establish a State university at
Tuscaloosa passed......Dec. 18, 1820
[It was not opened until April 18, 1831.]
State bank established and located at
Cahaba......1820
The principal towns in
Alabama were
Huntsville,
Claiborne,
Mobile,
Cahaba, St. Stephens,
Florence, and
Montgomery in......1820
General Lafayette received at the capital......1824
Seat of government removed to
Tuscaloosa......1826
William Weatherford, the
Indian warrior and chief at the
Fort Mimms massacre, dies in
Monroe county......1826
University of
Alabama (non-sectarian) at
Tuscaloosa opened......1831
First cotton factory erected in
Madison......1832
Creeks cede to the
United States all their lands east of the
Mississippi for $210,000 by treaty......1832
First railroad completed from
Tuscumbia to
Decatur, 44 miles......1834
Cherokees cede their lands to the
State by treaty......Dec. 29, 1835
[They receive $5,000,000 and 7,000,000 acres beyond the
Mississippi—to remove within two years.]
Great financial convulsion in......1837
Seat of government removed to
Montgomery......1847
Population of the
State about the time of its secession (whites, 526,431; negro slaves, 435,080; free negroes, 2,690）—964,201......1860
The General Assembly by resolution requires the governor, if a Black Republican be elected
President of the
United
[
272]
States in November, to order elections of delegates to a constitutional convention ... Feb. 24, 1860）
Alabama passes an ordinance of secession by 61 to 39; the fourth State to secede ..................... Jan. 11, 1861
Alabama seizes United States arsenal and arms at
Mobile, and occupies
Forts Morgan and
Gaines at entrance of
Mobile Bay ................. January, 1861
Provisional Congress of delegates from six seceded States meet at
Montgomery ... Feb. 4, 1861
Adopt a provisional constitution ... Feb. 8, 1861
Jefferson Davis inaugurated
President of the
Confederacy at
Montgomery ... Feb. 18, 1861
Seat of Confederate government removed from
Montgomery to
Richmond, Va ................... ....... July, 1861
There were liberated by the emancipation proclamation 435,132 slaves in
Alabama ..................... Jan. 1, 1863
Confederate fleet defeated in
Mobile Bay by
Admiral Farragut ...... Aug. 5, 1864
[State furnishes to the
Confederate service sixty-five regiments of infantry, twelve regiments of cavalry, and twenty-two batteries of artillery.
Brewer's
History of Alabama.]
Mobile evacuated by Confederate forces ... April 12, 1865
State convention meets and annuls ordinance of secession ...... Sept. 25, 1865
New constitution adopted..Nov. 5: 1865
[This constitution was not ratified until November, 1875.]
State admitted to a representation in Congress by act passed over
President's veto ....................June 25, 1868
Under proclamation of
Gov.-elect
W. H. Smith, June 26, the legislature assembles and ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution of the United States ............. July 13, 1868
State turned over to civil authorities by
General Meade ...........July 14, 1868
Immigration convention meets at
Montgomery ....................June 2, 1869
Governor Smith, claiming majority in State election of Nov. 8, files injunction restraining president of Senate from counting votes for governor ... Nov. 25, 1870
Votes for lieutenant-governor being counted,
E. H. Moren is declared elected and is inaugurated; as ex-officio president of the Senate he then counts the votes for governor-
R. B. Lindsay, 77,721;
W. H. Smith, 76,292. .Nov. 26, 1870
An amicable settlement of dispute after suit to recover books, papers, etc., of the governor's office begun by
Governor Lindsay ........................Dec. 7, 1870
Birmingham founded (chief iron centre of
Alabama)......................1871
University of
Alabama reorganized and opened.....................Oct. 4, 1871
George Goldthwaite, Democrat, elected
United States Senator, Dec. 7, 1870; qualifies .................. Jan. 15, 1872
Legislature passes a new election law, provides for an agricultural college, and adjourns..................Feb. 26, 1872
State agricultural and mechanical college at
Auburn chartered and opened ... 1872
Election returns of Nov. 5 disputed.
Republican members of legislature organize at
United States court-house in
Montgomery; Democratic members at State capitol, each claiming a constitutional quorum.
Governor Lindsay recognizes the latter ................. Nov. 18, 1872
David P. Lewis, Republican, declared elected governor, Nov. 23, and assumes the office, recognizing the court-house legislature .... .............. Nov. 25, 1872
Legislative dispute referred to
Attorney-General of the
United States, who proposes a compromise to take effect Dec. 18, when the Senate organizes at the
capitol, the court-house Assembly continuing its sessions .............. Dec. 18, 1872
Pursuant to adjournment, Dec. 21, both Houses meet Jan. 13, 1873, to examine contested seats and transact business independently until a joint resolution passed by the lower House is agreed to, informing the governor of the organization of the General Assembly ...... Feb. 1, 1873
Colored labor State convention meets at
Montgomery ........... Nov. 18, 1873
Constitutional convention meets at
Montgomery ............... Sept. 6, 1875
New State constitution ratified by 95,672 to 30,004 ............ Nov. 16, 1875
Act to fund State debt in new bonds at reduced interest and surrender certain securities held by the
State, approved ... Feb. 23, 1876
[
273]
First biennial session of legislature under new constitution, begins......Nov. 15, 1876
Act to establish a public-school system; a superintendent of education to be elected every two years, etc.......1876-77
John T. Morgan, Democratic
Senator, presents credentials in the United States Senate......Feb. 27, 1877
Act granting $75 to any resident of the
State who lost an arm or leg in the Confederate army......1879
George S. Houston qualifies as
United States Senator......March 18, 1879
United States Senator George S. Houston dies......Dec. 31, 1879
Luke Pryor, Democrat, qualifies as
United States Senator under executive appointment to fill vacancy......Jan. 15, 1880
James L. Pugh,
United States Senatorelect qualifies......Dec. 6, 1880
State
treasurer I. H. Vincent absconds, leaving a deficit of about $212,000......January, 1883
State agricultural department goes into operation, with
E. C. Betts, of
Madison county, as commissioner......Sept. 1, 1883
Congress grants the
State 46,080 acres of land for the benefit of the university......April 23, 1884
Foundation of a monument to the
Confederate soldiers of the
State laid on the grounds of the
capitol in
Montgomery by
Jefferson Davis......April 29, 1886
State agricultural and mechanical college burned; loss, $100,000......June 24, 1887
Lease of convicts in State penitentiary awarded to the
East Tennessee Coal, Iron, and Railroad Company, the convicts to be employed in the
Pratt coal-mines near
Birmingham......1888
Southern inter-State immigration convention, nearly 600 delegates from all the
Southern States, meets at
Montgomery......Dec. 12, 1888
Mardi Gras, Good Friday, and April 26 added to the legal holidays, and $50,000 appropriated for the relief of disabled Confederate soldiers or their widows by the legislature of......1888-89
Southern Inter-State Farmers' Association meets at
Montgomery......Aug. 21, 1889
Rube Burrows, a notorious criminal and murderer, breaks jail and is shot and killed at
Birmingham......Oct. 8, 1890
Ex-Gov. E. A. O'Neil dies at
Florence......Nov. 7, 1890
Eleventh annual convention of American Federation of Labor at
Birmingham meets......Dec. 14, 1891
Four thousand nine hundred and fifty-five disabled Confederate soldiers apply for pensions, each receiving $26.50 from a fund of $131,362.02 raised by special tax......1892
Conference of colored people at
Tuskegee, in the “black belt,” to consider the condition of the race; regretting the poverty of the
South, and lack of means for education, inability to build school-houses or furnish teachers, etc.; it admitted the friendliness and fairness of the whites, etc.......1892
Two State tickets in the field—
Gov. Thomas G. Jones heading Conservatives, and ex-Commissioner of
Agriculture R. F. Kolb, the “Jeffersonian Democrats.”
Two platforms issued;
Kolb defeated, charges frauds at the polls......August, 1892
The State resumes the care of convicts under contract......1893
Australian ballot authorized......1893
Governor Jones recommends the suppression of lynching by giving the sheriffs greater authority......Feb. 6, 1893
Many negro miners killed by strikers......July 16, 1894
Dispensary law in effect......Jan. 1, 1900
Ex-Senator Luke Pryor dies at
Athens......Aug. 5, 1900
Tornado at
Birmingham, eighteen lives lost, $250,000 property destroyed......March 25, 1901
Constitutional convention meets......May 22, 1901
New constitution ratified......Nov. 11, 1901
Alaska 
