The history of Alabama

This is the history of the State of Alabama, in thewhile the Whigs, joined by the remaining Democrats,
United States of America. Alabama became a state informed the party known as the "Unionists," which
1819; the economy of the central "black belt" had largeunwillingly accepted the Compromise and denied the
rich slave plantations that grew cotton. Elsewhere poor"constitutional" right of secession.
whites were subsistence farmers. Alabama secededSecession 1861
and joined the Confederate States of America,The "Unionists" were successful in the elections of 1851
1861-65. It suffered greatly in the American Civil War; alland 1852, but the feeling of uncertainty engendered in
the slaves were freed by 1865. After a period ofthe south by the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill
Reconstruction it emerged as a poor rural state, stilland the course of the slavery agitation after 1852 led
tied to cotton, with high racial tensions between thethe State Democratic convention of 1856 to revive the
ruling whites and the recently emancipated African"Alabama Platform"; when the "Alabama Platform"
Americans; many of the latter migrated north afterfailed to secure the formal approval of the Democratic
1917. Politically the state was one-party Democratic,National convention at Charleston, South Carolina, in
and produced a number of national leaders. World1860, the Alabama delegates, followed by those of the
War II brought prosperity. Cotton faded in importanceother cotton "states," withdrew. Upon the election of
as the state developed a manufacturing and serviceAbraham Lincoln, Governor Andrew B. Moore,
base. After 1980 the state became a Republicanaccording to previous instructions of the legislature,
stronghold in presidential elections, and leans Republicancalled a state convention. Secession had been
in statewide elections, while the Democratic Party stillopposed by many prominent men, and in North
dominates local and legislative offices.Alabama an attempt was made to organize a neutral
Among Native American people living in presentstate to be called Nickajack; but with President
Alabama in precontact times were Alabama (Alibamu),Lincoln's call to arms most opposition to secession
Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Koasati, and Mobile.ended.
The first Europeans to enter the limits of the presentOn January 11, 1861 The State of Alabama adopted
state of Alabama were Spaniards, who claimed thisthe ordinances of secession from the Union (by a vote
region as a part of Florida.of 61-39). Until February 18, 1861 Alabama was
It is possible that a member ofinformally called the Alabama Republic. It never
Pánfilo dechanged its formal name which always has been
Narváez's expedition of 1528"State of Alabama."
entered what is now southern Alabama, but the firstAlabama soon joined the Confederate States of
fully authenticated visit was that of Hernando de Soto,America, whose government was organized at
who made an arduous but fruitless journey along theMontgomery on February 4, 1861.
Coosa, Alabama and Tombigbee rivers in 1539.Civil War 1861-1865
The English, too, claimed the region north of the Gulf ofGovernor Moore energetically supported the
Mexico, and the territory of modern Alabama wasConfederate war effort. Even before hostilities began
included in the province of Carolina, granted by Charleshe seized federal facilities, sent agents to buy rifles in
II of England to certain of his favorites by the chartersthe Northeast, and scoured the state for weapons.
of 1663 and 1665. English traders of Carolina wereDespite some resistance in the northern part of the
frequenting the valley of the Alabama river as early asstate, Alabama joined the Confederate States of
1687.America. Congressman Williamson R. W. Cobb was a
Disregarding these claims, however, the French in 1702Unionist and pleaded for compromise. When he ran for
settled on the Mobile river and there erected Fortthe Confederate congress in 1861, he was defeated,
Louis, which for the next nine years was the seat ofbut in 1863, with the war weariness growing in
government of Louisiana. In 1711 Fort Louis wasAlabama, he was elected on a wave of antiwar
abandoned to the floods of the river, and on highersentiment. The new nation brushed Cobb aside and
ground was built Fort Conde, the gem of the presentset up its temporary capital in Montgomery and
city of Mobile, and the first permanent white settlementselected Jefferson Davis as president. In May the
in Alabama. Later, on account of the intrigues of theConfederate government abandoned Montgomery
English traders with the Indians, the French as a meansbefore the sickly season began, and relocated in
of defense established the military posts of FortRichmond. Virginia.
Toulouse, near the junction of the Coosa andSome idea of the severe internal logistics problems the
Tallapoosa rivers, and Fort Tombecbe on theConfederacy faced can be seen by tracing Davis's
Tombigbee River.journey from Mississippi, the next state over. From his
The grant of Georgia to Oglethorpe and his associatesplantation on the river he took a steamboat down the
in 1732 included a portion of what is now northernMississippi to Vicksburg, boarded a train to Jackson,
Alabama, and in 1739 Oglethorpe himself visited thewhere he took another train north to Grand Junction,
Creek Indians west of the Chattahoochee River andthen a third train east to Chattanooga, Tennessee, and
made a treaty with them.a fourth train to Atlanta, Georgia. Yet another train
The peace of Paris, in 1763, terminated the Frenchtook Davis to the Alabama border, where a final train
occupation, and Great Britain came into undisputedtook him to Montgomery. As the war proceeded the
possession of the region between the ChattahoocheeFederals seized the Mississippi River, burned trestles
and the Mississippi Rivers. The portion of Alabamaand railroad bridges, and tore up track; the frail
below the 31st parallel then became a part of WestConfederate railroad system faltered and virtually
Florida, and the portion north of this line a part of thecollapsed for want of repairs and replacement parts.
Illinois Country," set apart, by royal proclamation, for theIn the early part of the Civil War Alabama was not the
use of the Indians. In 1767 the province of West Floridascene of military operations, yet the state contributed
was extended northward to 32 degrees 28' N. lat., andabout 120,000 men to the Confederate service,
a few years later, during the American Revolutionarypractically all her white population capable of bearing
War, this region fell into the hands of Spain.arms. Most were recruited locally and served with men
By the Treaty of Versailles (1783), on September 3,they knew, which built esprit and strengthened ties to
1783, Great Britain ceded West Florida to Spain; but byhome. Medical conditions were severe; about 15% died
the Treaty of Paris (1783), signed the same day, sheof disease, and 10% from battle. Alabama had few
ceded to the United States all of this province north ofwell-equipped hospitals but it had many women who
31 degrees, and thus laid the foundation for a longvolunteered to nurse the sick and wounded. Soldiers
controversy.were poorly equipped, especially after 1863, and often
By the Treaty of Madrid, in 1795, Spain ceded to theresorted to pillaging the dead for boots, belts, canteens,
United States her claims to the lands east of theblankets, hats, shirts and pants. Uncounted thousands
Mississippi between 31 degrees and 32 degrees 28';of slaves worked with Confederate troops; they took
and three years later (1798) this district was organizedcare of horses and equipment, cooked and did laundry,
by Congress as the Mississippi Territory. A strip of landhauled supplies, and helped in field hospitals. Other
12 or 14 m. wide near the present northern boundaryslaves built defensive installations, especially those
of Alabama and Mississippi was claimed by Southaround Mobile. They graded roads, repaired railroads,
Carolina; but in 1787 that state ceded this claim to thedrove supply wagons, and labored in iron mines, iron
general government. Georgia likewise claimed all thefoundries and even in the munitions factories. The
lands between the 31st and 35th parallels from itsservice of slaves was involuntary, their unpaid labor
present western boundary to the Mississippi river, andwas impressed from their unpaid masters. About
did not surrender its claim until 1802; two years later the10,000 slaves escaped and joined the Union army,
boundaries of the Mississippi Territory were extendedalong with 2,700 white men.
so as to include all of the Georgia cession.Thirty-nine Alabamians attained flag rank, most notably
In 1812 Congress annexed to the Mississippi TerritoryLieutenant General James Longstreet and Admiral
the Mobile District of West Florida, claiming that it wasRaphael Semmes. Josiah Gorgas who came to
included in the Louisiana Purchase; and in the followingAlabama from Pennsylvania, was the chief of
year General James Wilkinson occupied this districtordnance for the Confederacy. He located new
with a military force, the Spanish commandant offeringmunitions plants in Selma, which employed 10,000
no resistance. The whole area of the present state ofworkers until the Union raiders in 1865 burned the
Alabama then for the first time became subject to thefactories down. Selma Arsenal made most of the
jurisdiction of the United States.Confederacy's ammunition. The Selma Naval
In 1817 the Mississippi Territory was divided; theOrdnance Works made artillery, turning out a cannon
western portion became the state of Mississippi, andevery five days. The Confederate Naval Yard built
the eastern portion became the Alabama Territory,ships and was noted for launching the CSS
with St. Stephens, on the Tombigbee River, as theTennessee in 1863 to defend Mobile Bay. Selma's
temporary seat of government.Confederate Nitre Works procured niter, for
The Indian problem was important. With thegunpowder, from limestone caves. When supplies
encroachment of the white settlers upon theirwere low, it advertised for housewives to save the
hunting-grounds the Creek Indians began to growcontents of their chamber pots--urine, a rich source of
restless, and the great Shawnee chief Tecumseh, whonitrogen.
visited them in 1811, fomented their discontent. WhenAlabama soldiers fought in hundreds of battles; the
the outbreak of the second war with Britain in 1812state's losses at Gettysburg were 1,750 dead plus
gave the Creeks assurance of British aid they rose ineven more captured or wounded; the famed
arms, massacred several hundred settlers who had"Alabama Brigade" took 781 casualties. In 1863 the
taken refuge in Fort Mims, near the junction of theFederal forces secured a foothold in northern
Alabama and Tombigbee rivers, and in a short time noAlabama in spite of the opposition of General Nathan
white family in the Creek country was safe outside aB. Forrest. From 1861 the federal blockade shut Mobile,
palisade. The Chickasaw and Choctaw Indians,and in 1864 the outer defenses of Mobile were taken
however, remained the faithful allies of the whites, andby a Federal fleet; the city itself held out until April 1865.
volunteers from Georgia, South Carolina and[Rogers, ch 12]
Tennessee, and later United States troops, marched toReconstruction, 1865-1875
the rescue of the threatened settlements. In theAccording to the presidential plan of reorganization, a
campaign that followed the most distinguished servicesprovisional governor for Alabama was appointed in
were rendered by General Andrew Jackson, whoseJune 1865; a state convention met in September of the
vigorous measures broke for ever the power of thesame year, and declared the ordinance of secession
Creek Confederacy. By the treaty of Fort Jacksonnull and void and slavery abolished; a legislature and a
(August 9, 1814) the Creeks ceded their claims togovernor were elected in November, the legislature
about one-half of the present state; and cessions bywas at once recognized by President Andrew
the Cherokees, Chickasaws and Choctaws in 1816 leftJohnson, but not by Congress, which refused to seat
only about one-fourth of Alabama to the Indians.the delegation. Johnson ordered the Army to allow the
A State in the Unioninauguration of the governor after the legislature
In 1819 Alabama was regularly admitted as the 22ndratified the thirteenth amendment in December, 1865.
state to the Union.But the passage, by the legislature, of Black Codes or
One of the first problems of the new commonwealthvagrancy and apprenticeship laws designed to control
was that of finance. Since the amount of money inthe Freedmen who were flocking from the plantations
circulation was not sufficient to meet the demands ofto the towns, and its rejection of the fourteenth
the increasing population, a system of state banksamendment, intensified the congressional hostility to the
was instituted. State bonds were issued and publicpresidential plan. In 1867 the congressional plan of
lands were sold to secure capital, and the notes of theReconstruction was completed and Alabama was
banks, loaned on security, became a medium ofplaced under military government. The Freedmen were
exchange. Prospects of an income from the banks lednow enrolled as voters and large numbers of white
the legislature of 1836 to abolish all taxation for statecitizens were disfranchised. The new Republican party,
purposes. This was hardly done, however, before thecomprised of Freedmen, Scalawags and
panic of 1837 wiped out a large portion of the banks'Carpetbaggers now took control, two years after the
assets; next came revelations of grossly careless andwar ended. A constitutional convention, controlled by
even of corrupt management, and in 1843 the banksthis element, met in November 1867, and framed a
were placed in liquidation. After disposing of all theirconstitution which conferred universal manhood
available assets, the state assumed the remainingsuffrage. Whites who had fought for the Confederacy
liabilities, for which it had pledged its faith and credit.were disfranchised. The Reconstruction Acts of
In 1832 the national government provided for theCongress required every new constitution to be
removal of the Creeks; but before the terms of theratified by a majority of the legal voters of the state.
contract were effected, the state legislature formedThe whites of Alabama largely stayed away from the
the Indian lands into counties, and settlers flocked in.polls, and, after five days of voting, the constitution
The state became a prosperous center of slavewanted 13,550 to secure a majority. Congress then
plantations growing cotton in the Black Belt, withenacted that a majority of the votes cast should be
subsistence farmers (with few slaves) eking out asufficient, and thus the constitution went into effect, the
living on the poorer lands. All the whites werestate was readmitted to the Union in June 1868, and a
committed to a spirit of frontier democracy andnew governor and legislature were elected.
egalitarianism, and a fierce defense of their republicanThe next two years are notable for legislative
values of civic virtue and opposition to corruption. J.extravagance and corruption, according to white
Mills Thornton (1978) argues that Whigs argued forAlabamians. The state endorsed railway bonds at the
positive state action to benefit society as a wholerate of $12,000 and $16,000 a mile until the state debt
while the Democrats feared any increase of power inhad increased from eight millions to seventeen millions
government or in such private institutions asof dollars, and similar corruption characterized local
state-chartered banks, railroads and corporations.government. The native white people united, formed a
Fierce political battles raged in Alabama on issuesConservative party and elected a governor and a
ranging from banking to the removal of the Creekmajority of the lower house of the legislature in 1870;
Indians, but Thornton suggests that there was actuallybut, as the new administration was largely a failure, in
only one issue in the state's politics: how to protect1872 there was a reaction in favor of the Radicals, a
liberty and white equality, or, to put the matter anotherlocal term applied to the Republican party. In 1874,
way, how to avoid slavery. Fears that Northernhowever, the power of the Radicals was finally
agitators threatened their value system angered thebroken, the Conservative Democrats electing all state
voters and made them ready to secede whenofficials. A commission appointed to examine the state
Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860. [Thornton 1978]debt found it to be $25,503,000; by compromise it was
Until 1832 there was only one party in the state, thereduced to $15,000,000. A new constitution was
Democratic, but the question of nullification caused aadopted in 1875, which omitted the guarantee of the
division that year into the (Jackson) Democratic partyprevious constitution that no one should be denied
and the State's Rights (Calhoun Democratic) party;suffrage on account of race, color or previous
about the same time an opposition party emerged, thecondition of servitude, and forbade the state to
Whig party. It drew support from plantation ownersengage in internal improvements or to give its credit to
and townsmen, while the Democrats were strongestany private enterprise.
among poor farmers and Catholics in the Mobile area.After 1874 the Democratic party had constant control
For some time the Whigs were almost as numerousof the state administration. The Republicans were by
as the Democrats, but they never secured control ofnow largely a Black party which held no local or state
the state government. The State's Rights faction wereoffices, but did have some federal patronage. It failed
in a minority; nevertheless under their active andto make nominations for office in 1878 and 1880 and
persistent leader, William L. Yancey (1814-1863), theyendorsed the ticket of the Greenback party in 1882.
prevailed upon the Democrats in 1848 to adopt theirThe development of mining and manufacturing was
most radical views. During the agitation over theaccompanied by economic distress among the farming
Wilmot Proviso which would bar slavery from territoryclasses, which found expression in the Jeffersonian
acquired from Mexico, Yancey induced theDemocratic party, organized in 1892. The regular
Democratic State Convention of 1848 to adopt what isDemocratic ticket was elected and the new party
known as the "Alabama Platform." It declared thatwas then merged into the Populist party. In 1894 the
neither Congress nor the government of a territoryRepublicans united with the Populists, elected three
had the right to interfere with slavery in a territory, thatcongressional representatives, secured control of
those who held opposite views were not Democrats,many of the counties, but failed to carry the state, and
and that the Democrats of Alabama would notcontinued their opposition with less success in the next
support a candidate for the presidency if he did notcampaigns. Partisanship became intense, and
agree with them on these questions. This platformDemocratic charges of corruption of the ignorant Black
was endorsed by conventions in Florida and Virginiaelectorate were matched by Republican and Populist
and by the legislatures of Georgia and Alabama. Oldaccusations of fraud and violence by Democrats.
party lines were broken by the Compromise of 1850.Consequently, after division on the subject among the
The State's Rights faction, joined by many Democrats,Democrats themselves, as well as opposition of
founded the Southern Rights party, which demandedRepublicans and Populists, a new constitution with
the repeal of the Compromise, advocated resistancerestrictions on suffrage was adopted in 1901.
to future encroachments and prepared for secession,