The Natural State celebrates its 188th birthday this Saturday. Arkansas became the 25th state of the US on June 15, 1836. However, Arkansas had a long history before 1836. The word “Arkansas” comes from the Quapaw Native American tribe, who lived in the which became the Natural State. According to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, the state’s name has had several different spellings. In 1881, the state’s General Assembly declared that the state’s name should be spelled “Arkansas” but pronounced “Arkansaw.” On June 4, 1812, the Missouri Territory was created by Congress, which included Arkansas. Fort Smith began in 1817 when the U.S. Army established a western frontier post along the banks of the Arkansas River. The city of Fort Smith was incorporated on Christmas Eve 1842. That military post was abandoned in 1871. On March 2, 1819, President James Monroe signed an act of Congress to create the Territory of Arkansas. When Arkansas became a state in 1836, James Conway became its first governor. In 1853, the legislature authorized Arkansas’ first railroad. Arkansas’ first public university, Arkansas Industrial University, was established on March 27, 1871 in Fayetteville. It later became the University of Arkansas. The first year of the school had more than 100 students but only three teachers. In the spring of 1874, an armed conflict divided the people of Arkansas. Arkansas’s own Civil War began when Republicans Elijah Baxter and Joseph Brooks each claimed the governorship. In the end, President Ulysses Grant recognized Baxter as the legitimate governor. Construction of the current Arkansas State Capitol began on November 27, 1900. About 72,000 Arkansans served in World War I, including women and African Americans. Just before World War II, the United States reinvested in Fort Smith with the construction of Camp Chaffee. About 200,000 Arkansans served in World War II. Camp Chaffee was renamed Fort Chaffee in 1956. Two years later, Elvis Presley made headlines when he received his first haircut at the fort. The 1954 United States Supreme Court ruling in the Brown case. v. The Board of Education ruled that segregated schools were illegal. In 1957, The Little Rock Nine became the first African-American students to enter Little Rock’s Central High School. President Dwight Eisenhower ordered the US military to escort the students into the school. This is because Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the state’s National Guard to block its entrance. Former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton became the 42nd president of the United States in 1992. Bentonville-based Walmart became the world’s largest corporation in 2002.
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The Natural State celebrates its 188th birthday this Saturday. Arkansas became the 25th state of the United States on June 15, 1836.
However, Arkansas had a long history before 1836. The word “Arkansas” comes from the Quapaw Native American tribe, who lived in what became the Natural State. According to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office, the state’s name has had several different spellings.
In 1881, the state’s General Assembly declared that the state’s name should be spelled “Arkansas” but pronounced “Arkansaw.”
On June 4, 1812, Congress created the Missouri Territory, which included Arkansas.
Fort Smith began in 1817 when the U.S. Army established a western frontier post along the banks of the Arkansas River. The city of Fort Smith was incorporated on Christmas Eve 1842. That military post was abandoned in 1871.
On March 2, 1819, President James Monroe signed an act of Congress to create the Territory of Arkansas.
When Arkansas became a state in 1836, James Conway became its first governor.
In 1853, the legislature authorized Arkansas’ first railroad.
Arkansas’ first public university, Arkansas Industrial University, was established on March 27, 1871 in Fayetteville. It later became the University of Arkansas. The first year of the school had more than 100 students but only three teachers.
In the spring of 1874, an armed conflict divided the people of Arkansas. Arkansas’s own Civil War began when Republicans Elijah Baxter and Joseph Brooks each claimed the governorship. In the end, President Ulysses Grant recognized Baxter as the legitimate governor.
Construction of the current Arkansas State Capitol building began on November 27, 1900.
About 72,000 Arkansans served in World War I, including women and African Americans.
Just before World War II, the United States reinvested in Fort Smith with the construction of Camp Chaffee. About 200,000 Arkansans served in World War II.
Camp Chaffee was renamed Fort Chaffee in 1956. Two years later, Elvis Presley made headlines when he received his first haircut at the fort.
The 1954 United States Supreme Court ruling in the Brown case. v. The Board of Education ruled that segregated schools were illegal. In 1957, The Little Rock Nine became the first African-American students to enter Little Rock’s Central High School. President Dwight Eisenhower ordered the US military to escort the students into the school. This is because Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus ordered the state’s National Guard to block its entrance.
Former Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton became the 42nd president of the United States in 1992.
Bentonville-based Walmart became the world’s largest corporation in 2002.
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