Tennessee in United States History
Timeline of Events:
- 1785: Tennessee established as a territory.
- 1790: Tennessee admitted to the Union as the 16th state.
- 1803: Tennessee Territory split into the states of Tennessee and Alabama.
- 1812: Battle of New Orleans: Volunteer troops from Tennessee fought under General Andrew Jackson.
- 1861: Tennessee secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy.
- 1863: Chattanooga Campaign: Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant capture Chattanooga.
- 1865: Tennessee is readmitted to the Union.
- 1875: Tennessee Centennial Exposition is held in Nashville.
- 1896: Plessy v. Ferguson: Supreme Court case involving segregation of railroads, based on an incident in Tennessee.
Important Legislation:
- 1847: Women’s Rights Act: Granted women the right to own and control property.
- 1865: Reconstruction Era legislation: Enacted during the Civil War and Reconstruction period to address the status of former slaves and rebuild the South.
Important Court Cases:
- Plessy v. Ferguson (1896): Established the “separate but equal” doctrine, which justified racial segregation.
- Brown v. Board of Education (1954): Struck down the “separate but equal” doctrine, leading to the desegregation of schools.
Major Industry:
- Agriculture: Historically, Tennessee’s primary industry has been agriculture, with major crops including cotton, tobacco, and corn.
Impact on the Rest of the Country:
- Battle of New Orleans: Tennessee volunteers played a crucial role in the American victory in the War of 1812.
- Civil War: Tennessee was a key battleground during the Civil War, and its secession from the Union had a significant impact on the conflict.
- Music: Tennessee has had a major influence on American music, particularly country and blues music.
- Historical significance: Tennessee is home to numerous historical landmarks, including the Hermitage (Andrew Jackson’s estate), the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and the Ryman Auditorium (the “Mother Church of Country Music”).