Timeline of Historical Events
- 1803: Purchased by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase.
- 1820: Admitted to the Union as a slave state under the Missouri Compromise.
- 1836: Mormons settle in Missouri, leading to conflict with local settlers.
- 1849: California Gold Rush brings thousands of prospectors through Missouri.
- 1861: Missouri remains in the Union during the Civil War, despite strong Confederate sympathies.
- 1865: Slavery is abolished in Missouri.
- 1870: Missouri Compromise is overturned by the 14th amendment]].
- 1875: Grangers’ Revolt highlights economic disparities in Missouri.
- 1893: World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, featuring Missouri exhibits.
- 1904: Louisiana Purchase Exposition held in St. Louis, showcasing Missouri’s progress.
- 1914: Theodore Roosevelt establishes the National Park Service, which includes Missouri’s Gateway Arch.
- 1929: Great Depression hits Missouri, leading to widespread unemployment.
- 1941: Missouri enters World War II, supplying troops and resources.
- 1954: Brown v. Board of Education strikes down school segregation in Missouri and across the nation.
- 1972: Missouri becomes the first state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
- 1989: Gateway Arch completed, becoming a national landmark.
Important Legislation
- Fugitive Slave Law (1850): Required Northerners to return escaped slaves to their owners.
- Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857): Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not citizens and could not sue in federal court.
- Missouri Constitution (1875): Included provisions regulating railroads and corporations.
- School District of Independence v. Missouri (1976): Supreme Court upheld Missouri’s ban on public funding for religious schools.
Major Industry
- Agriculture: Corn, soybeans, wheat, livestock
- Manufacturing: Automotive, aerospace, food processing
- Tourism: Gateway Arch, Branson entertainment district
Impact on the Rest of the Country
- Missouri played a key role in the westward expansion of the United States.
- It was a battleground state during the Civil War, and its decision to remain in the Union helped secure victory for the North.
- Missouri’s fight against segregation was a major step towards civil rights in the United States.
- The state’s food and agricultural products have been vital to the nation’s economy.
- Missouri’s Gateway Arch is a national symbol of westward expansion and American achievement.