Table of Contents
When did people first settle in Illinois?
1673
The first Europeans to visit Illinois were the French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette in 1673, but the region was ceded to Britain after the French and Indian War.
Why did settlers move to Illinois?
Irish Potato Famine. The Irish potato famine was another reason that many people immigrated to Illinois and the new West in the mid-nineteenth century. New immigrants could work as much-in-demand laborers in Illinois and elsewhere for a few years, then purchase their own land to farm.
Where was the first post Explorer settlement located in Illinois who started it and why?
In 1778, during the American Revolution, the capture by American forces of Kaskaskia, the British seat of government in the region, made Illinois a county of Virginia. The first settlement on the site of Chicago was made in 1779 by the black pioneer Jean-Baptist-Point Du Sable.
Who were the first settlers in Chicago?
In 1779, Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian, built the first permanent settlement at the mouth of the Chicago River. Under the terms of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, the Potawatomi Indians ceded a tract of land, six miles square, at the mouth of the Chicago River.
What was the first city in Illinois?
Kaskaskia
Map Kaskaskia, the oldest town in the state and the first capitol of Illinois.
Who were the first settlers in Illinois?
The Illinois region was once the home of prehistoric Indians called Mound Builders . Then, through the years, many different tribes of Indians lived in the territory. The first two white men to enter the area were Father Jacques Marquette and an explorer named Louis Joliet who arrived in 1672.
What are some historical events in Illinois?
In Illinois, the site says the Chicago Fire of 1871 was the the single most significant event in the history of the Prairie State. These days, a hit TV show and a soccer team take their names from the event, but the tragedy left its mark on the city and helped shape it into what it is today.
What is the history of Illinois?
The first Europeans to visit Illinois were the French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette in 1673, but the region was ceded to Britain after the French and Indian War. After the American Revolution, Illinois became a territory of the United States, and achieved statehood in 1818.