Arkansas History Guide

Spaniard Hernando de Soto was among the early European explorers to visit the territory in the mid-16th century, but it was a Frenchman, Henri de Tonti, who in 1686 founded the first permanent white settlement, the Arkansas Post. However, before the European conquest, the Arkansas territory was inhabited by a variety of Native American Indians. Among them the Quapaw, Caddo, and Osage nations. In their forced move westward (under U.S. Indian removal policies), the "Five Civilized Tribes" (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole) inhabited Arkansas during its territorial period.

In 1763, Spain received the land west of the Mississippi River, which included the Louisiana Territory. In 1800, this territory returned to French control. Three years later the United States bought the Louisiana Purchase, which included Arkansas.

The region became part of the Missouri Territory in 1812, but was established as the Arkansaw Territory in 1819 after the cotton boom of 1818 brought large waves of settlers. Its capital was first established at Arkansas Post, but moved to Little Rock in 1821. Arkansas was admitted to the union on June 15, 1836 as a slave state. After initially refusing to join the confederacy, Arkansas seceded after the attack on Ft. Sumter in 1861. Numerous small-scale battles were fought in Arkansas during the American Civil War.

Under the Military Reconstruction Act, Congress readmitted Arkansas in June 1868. Years later, as conservative Democrats began to regain political power, the state passed a new constitution in 1874. It was after Reconstruction when the state began to receive more immigrants and migrants. Some were originally recruited to work as farm labor in the developing Delta region. Some immigration continued into the early decades of the 20th century. For the first time the state welcomed numbers of Chinese, Italian, Syrian and immigrants from eastern Europe who made the Delta more diverse than the rest of the state. In addition, some black migrants moved into the area because of opportunities to develop the bottomlands and own their own property. The Chinese and Italians tried to move quickly out of farm labor.

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled that public schools should not be segregated. Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus called National Guard troops to support segregationists and prevent the enrollment of nine African American students to Little Rock Central High School. President Dwight Eisenhower sent troops to escort the students into the school and Little Rock high schools were completely integrated by fall 1959.

Today a wide variety of agricultural industries, as well as mineral and petroleum-based products are mainstays of the state's modern economy. New manufacturing businesses are on the increase, and major corporations like Tyson Foods and Wal-Mart are based here.

Bill Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, was born in Hope, Arkansas. Before his presidency, Clinton served nearly twelve years as the 40th and 42nd Governor of Arkansas.

Food products are the state's largest employing sector, with lumber and wood products a close second. Arkansas is also a leader in the production of cotton, rice, and soybeans. It also has the country's only active diamond mine; located near Murfreesboro, it is operated as a tourist attraction.

Arkansas Famous People

• Maya Angelou (1928 - ) Poet and author of many books, including I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
• Hattie Caraway (1878 - 1950) The first woman elected to the United States Senate; lived in Jonesboro.
• Johnny Cash (1932 - ) Award-winning country and western singer known as ?the man in black.?; born in Kingsland.
• Eldridge Cleaver ( 1935 -1998) Black activist; born in Wabaseka.
• William Jefferson (Bill) Clinton (1946- ) 42nd President of the United States; born in Hope.
• Jay Hanna (Dizzy) Dean (1910 - 1974) Baseball player; born in Lucas.
• Scott Joplin (1867 - 1917) Musician, composer; lived in Texarkana.
• John Grisham (1955 - ) Author famous for works such as The Firm, The Pelican Brief, The Rainmaker and The Chamber; born in Jonesboro.
• General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) Famous soldier and statesman; born in Little Rock.
• Scottie Pippen (1965 - ) NBA player, played for the University of Central Arkansas; born in Hamburg.
• Mary Steenburgen (1953 - ) Actress; born in Newport.
• Saracen (1735 - 1832) The last Quapaw chief in Arkansas; he is buried in Pine Bluff.
• Sam Walton (1918 - 1992) Founder of Wal-Mart; lived in  Bentonville.