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Early Statehood - Government

Pre-Statehood Era: 1700-1818

Early Statehood: 1818-1861

Civil War Era: 1861-1865

Late 19th Century: 1866-1900

Early 20th Century: 1900-1914

World War I: 1914-1918

Roaring Twenties: 1918-1929

Great Depression: 1930-1941

World War II: 1941-1945

Cold War Era: 1946-1991

Millennium: 1991-Present

Lesson Plans

Resources

Crime and Punishment

Jail Diagram, Fayette County, 1821 / Transcription

  • This document is a plan for a jail to be built in Vandalia, IL, the state capitol at the time. Security features include tower rooms and thirteen inch thick brick walls.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 3. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Report Relating to a Night Watch and Watch House, April 11th, 1845 / Transcription

  • Report regarding the creation of a night watch and guardhouse for the protection of the city from fires and looting.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 10. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 09/20/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc10.html

Ordinance to Prevent Filth from Entering the Water Supply, June 9th, 1848 / Transcription

  • Chicago city council ordinance preventing water pollution caused by cleaning horses or wagons in Lake Michigan near the hydraulic works.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 15. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc15.html

Petition Relating to the Arrest of a Fugitive Slave, March 1st, 1852 / Transcription

  • Petition to the Chicago city council and mayor to remove a debt from a lawsuit. The petitioner was asked to assist an officer to arrest a person inciting violence, but was later sued by the person arrested.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 22. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc22.html

Notice of Writ of Attachment, May 1857

  • This notice was published in the Shelby Banner newspaper to notify Willis Phelps, William Mattoon, and James Barnes of the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad that they were being sued for failing to pay William Headen and Hiram H. Trimble. The men had purchased supplies for railroad workers.

  • Citation: I/B/Box 5 Headen and Trimble v. Phelps, Mattoon, and Barnes 1857 (28) Number 105. IRAD in Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University.

Petition of Moriss Bauland for Remission of Fine, July 6th, 1857 / Transcription

  • Petition to Chicago city council by a meat seller to remove his fine for selling meat on Sunday, and it requests the sale of meat on Sunday for laborers.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 37. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc37.html

Writ for the Apprehension of Rodney Messer & James P. Judkins,  January 7th, 1858 / Typed Transcription

  • This document asks the sheriff of Shelby County to arrest Rodney Messer and James V. Judkins on charges of keeping their "tippling house," or saloon, open on a Sunday. The reverse of this document shows how the sheriff took notes on these men's captures and bail postings.

  • Citation: I/B/Box 5 Shelby County Circuit Court People v. Messer and Judkins. IRAD in Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University.

Albert H. Tracy v. The Board of Supervisors of Shelby County, January 1861 / Typed Transcription

  • This document serves as evidence of how rural areas pursued economic development through internal improvements in the 19th century. Counties, (and other units of local government), sold bonds, thus raising funds to purchase railroad stock. This stock served as an investment opportunity for the county, and lured the railroad to build tracks in the county. Individuals who purchased the bonds were guaranteed a certain rate of return from the county bond. Albert Tracy sued the Shelby County Board of Supervisors when they did not pay him the interest due on the bonds he purchased, which had allowed Shelby County to invest in the stock of the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad Company.

  • Citation: I/B/Box 5 Shelby County Board of Supervisors 1861 (43) Number 123. IRAD in Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University.

Philanthropy and Government Aid

Petition of E. Mieling for Relief Due to Damages Incurred by His Wife, August 28th, 1854 / Transcription

  • Petition to the city council for financial assistance from a man whose wife was struck by a fire truck. The city initially paid him a sum, but bills exceeded the money and his wife's recovery forced him to miss two months of work. 

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 27. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 12/06/2106. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc27.html

Apprentice Indenture, Fayette County, 1860 / Transcription

  • In the mid-19th century, charitable aid societies in New York City sent vagrant and abandoned children to homes in the rural Midwest. Farmers needed cheap labor and, it was reasoned, the children would benefit from the fresh rural environment. Special trains were even run from New York to the Midwest for the purpose of placing the children at each stop. This Apprentice Indenture is for Alfred Lumsden, an eight-year-old charge of the New York Juvenile Asylum.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 21. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Public Health and Safety

Suggestions from Fire Warden Concerning Stovepipes and Chimneys, October 11th, 1841/ Transcription

  • Suggestions made by a fire warden for the protection of individuals from fire in stovepipes and chimneys.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 4. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc4.html

Report Relating to a Night Watch and Watch House, April 11th, 1845 / Transcription

  • See Crime and Punishment section

Petition Relating to Geese Running at Large, August 29th, 1845 / Transcription

Petition for Appointment as City Scavenger, April 23rd, 1847 / Transcription

  • Petition to the city council of Chicago to remove garbage and prevent livestock owners from feeding their animals the garbage. Petitioner suggests a garbage removal system and offers his services.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 14. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016.  https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc14.html

Ordinance to Prevent Filth from Entering the Water Supply, June 9th, 1848 / Transcription

  • See Crime and Punishment section

Physician's Cholera Report, June 3rd, 1849 / Transcription

State and Local Government

Constitution of 1818

  • This constitution, which was adopted on August 26th, 1818 in Kaskaskia, Illinois, was the first official constitution for the state of Illinois.

Hennepin Precinct Poll Book, 1832 / Transcription

  • Today we use the Presidential short ballot, which gives the names of the Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, who are then voted for in the Electoral College by electors. In Illinois in 1832, voters' ballots listed electors rather than Presidential candidates. This poll book shows which voter voted for which elector in Hennepin Precinct, 1832. Andrew Jackson won the election.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 7. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Monmouth Plat Map, 1833

  • Plat maps show the divisions of a piece of land, to scale. Creating a plat map is an important step in incorporating a town or city. This map, created in 1833, shows the streets and lots in the town of Monmouth, Ill.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 8. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Notice to Introduce an Act to Authorize Samuel Musick to Build a Toll Bridge, December 9th, 1834 / Transcription

  • Abraham Lincoln wrote this note to inform the Speaker of the Illinois House that he intended to introduce legislation to allow Samuel Musick to build a toll bridge in Sangamon County. This was the first piece of legislation by Lincoln that became a law.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 2. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc2.html

A Bill for an Act to Locate a State Road Between Springfield and George C. Miller's Ferry, February 2nd, 1835 / Transcription

  • Abraham Lincoln sponsored many bills similar to this document to help improve transportation in the state of Illinois. This one was to build a road connecting Springfield to a ferry twelve miles from New Salem.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 3. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc3.html

A Bill for an Act to Relocate a Part of the State Road Leading from Springfield to Lewiston, December 15th, 1835 / Transcription

  • Abraham Lincoln wrote this bill to relocate the state road from Springfield to Lewistown (or Lewiston). Not everyone liked the new route in this bill, so Lincoln proposed another bill that created a committee to decide on the best path for the road.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 4. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc4.html

Amendment to a Bill for an Act Supplemental to an Act to Incorporate Subscribers to the Bank of the State of Illinois,  December 22nd, 1835 / Transcription

  • Abraham Lincoln wrote this amendment to an act to create a state bank because he thought the bank should be more accountable for its actions. Unfortunately, the amendment failed and the bank eventually closed.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 5. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc5.html

Road Supervisor Report, 1835 / Transcription

  • Road survey written by Edward Swan concerning taxes paid and still owed by landowners.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 10. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Assessor Book, 1836 / Transcription

  • This accessor's book from Schuyler county tracks property, including slaves that were brought into the state, for tax purposes.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 36. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

An Act to Permanently Locate the Seat of Government of the State of Illinois, February 7th, 1837/ Transcript

  • This act, written by Abraham Lincoln, was intended to move the state capitol from Vandalia to a new, permanent location. Lincoln's choice location was Springfield, but others wanted Alton, Vandalia, and Jacksonville.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 6. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc6.html

Report from a Select Committee Concerning the Division of Sangamon County, February 13th, 1837 / Transcript

  • Abraham Lincoln was chairman of a committee created to decide on the division of counties in Illinois as the state population grew. In 1837, the committee recommended not dividing the county due to the number of residents in Sangamon opposing the split. Two years later, the county was divided into Sangamon, Logan, Menard, and Christian counties.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 7. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016.  https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc7.html

Journal of the House of Representatives, March 3rd, 1837 / Transcription 

  • Abraham Lincoln and Dan Stone, both legislators from Sangamon County, wrote this entry to protest a resolution from the General Assembly stating the Constitution guaranteed the right to own slaves in states that allowed it, and that the Federal government could not outlaw slavery in Washington, D.C.. At the same time, Lincoln and Stone also stated that abolitionist policies may do more harm than good.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 9. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc9.html

House Joint Resolution Concerning Purchase of Unsold Federal Lands, January 17th, 1839 / Transcript

  • Abraham Lincoln introduced this piece of legislation to the General Assembly on behalf of the House Finance Committee. It required the United States federal government to sell its land holdings in Illinois to the state. Lincoln hoped his plan would give Illinois a source of income when it sold the land to new settlers. Unfortunately, the federal government chose to ignore the legislation, and the state was unable to use the potential source of income.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 15. Used by permission of the Indiana Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc15.html

A Bill for an Act Authorizing the Purchase of a House for the Use of the Governor, January 24th, 1840/ Transcript

  • Abraham Lincoln wrote and introduced this bill to buy a house for the governor in the new state capitol of Springfield. He originally asked for $8,000, with an attempt for an amendment to raise the amount to $10,000 by the House of Representatives. Neither amount passed voting in the House of Representatives, but within fifteen years, $31,000 had been spent for the same purpose.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 18. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc18.html

Certificate of Qualification of Lincoln's Election to the Twelfth General Assembly, November 18th, 1840 / Transcript

  • This certificate verifies that Abraham Lincoln was elected to the General Assembly of the State of Illinois for Sangamon County.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 19. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016 https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc19.html

Resolution on Teachers' Examinations, December 2nd, 1840 / Transcription

  • Abraham Lincoln sponsored the Committee on Education to look into teaching qualification exams before a teacher could be hired. This led to local school teaching certificates required by state legislation, although they did not have any guidelines for the qualification exams.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 21. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc21.html

An Act Concerning the State Library, December 15, 1842

  • This act passed by the General Assembly of Illinois provided for the creation of the State Library in Illinois. The Secretary of State was the head of the library, and books were only loaned to legislators in session, the Governor, and executives of the state.

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, Thirteenth General Assembly. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, public printers, 1843. 290-291.

Joint Resolution to Procure a Historical Essay, January 16, 1843

  • This Resolution allowed the Secretary of State to collect a copy of a historical essay, delivered by Judge Sidney Breese on the floor of the State Senate, and to place it into the state library.

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, Thirteenth General Assembly. Springfield, IL: Walters & Weber, public printers, 1843. 322.

Communication from the Mayor of Buffalo, December 27th, 1843 / Transcription

  • Letter sending the charter and ordinances of the city of Buffalo from their mayor to the mayor of Chicago.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield, IL: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 8. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc8.html

Election Returns-Seventh Congressional District, 1846 / Transcript

  • Abraham Lincoln ran for the United States Congress in 1846, representing the Seventh Congressional District, (which included Putnam, Marshall, Woodford, Tazewell, Mason, Menard, Cass, Morgan, Scott, Logan, and Sangamon Counties). He ran as a member of the Whig Party against Peter Cartwright of the Democratic Party and Elihue Walcot of the Liberty Party, and won.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 26. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc26.html

Constitution of 1847

  • This constitution, which was signed August 31, 1847, replaced the 1818 constitution.

  • Citation: Illinois Constitutional Convention 1847 Journal.

Resolution Regarding the Fugitive Slave Act, November 29th, 1850 / Transcription

  • Resolution by the Chicago city council, this resolution reaffirmed an earlier resolution that refused to enforce the Fugitive Slave Act in Chicago.

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 19. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/07/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc19.html

Act for the Geological and Mineralogical Survey of Illinois, February 17, 1851

  • This act created the Geological and Mineralogical Survey of Illinois, now known as the Illinois State Geological Survey. The state was charged with finding a geologist who could survey the whole state, write annual reports, and collect samples to be displayed in the state capitol.

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, Seventeenth General Assembly, Second Session. Springfield, IL: Lamphier & Walker, Printers, 1851.

Series of Laws regarding "Alien Landlords"

  • This series of acts tracks laws regarding alien, or absentee, landlords.

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, 1851, 1887.

Act Providing for the Creation of a Normal University, February 18, 1857

  • This act provided for the creation of a Normal School in the state of Illinois. According to the act, Normal Schools were to "qualify teachers for the common schools... elements of the natural sciences... the fundamental laws of the United States and of the state of Illinois... and such other studies as the board of education may from time to time proscribe". 

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, Twentieth General Assembly. Springfield, IL: Lamphier & Walker, Publisher, 1857. 298-301.

Treaties and National Legislation

Resolution of Congress, December 8th, 1818

  • This resolution formally declared the admission of the state of Illinois into the Union.

  • Citation: Gross, Eugene L. and William L. Gross, ed. The Statutes of Illinois: An Analytical Compilation of All the General Laws of the State in Force at the Present Time, Second Volume: Acts of 1871-2. Springfield: E. L. & W. L. Gross, 1872. 28.

Indian Removal Act, May 22th, 1830 p. 411 / p. 412

War and Military

Military Land Patent of William Kelly, Adams County, 1818 / Transcription

  • In 1804, the United States purchased a triangle of land between the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers from Native Americans. With the outbreak of the War of 1812, Congress set aside about 2,000,000 acres of land to be distributed as land bounties to soldiers. In 1816, an additional 1,500,000 acres were added. This patent promises William Kelly a quarter section of land that was located 8 miles east of what is now Quincy in Adams County.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 2. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Militia Poll Book, Fayette County, 1822 / Transcription

  • The Constitution of 1818 established a state militia; it stipulated that company battalion and regimental officers were to be elected by the militia. Voting was done in public; this document shows the captain, lieutenant, and ensign election of the 2nd Company of the 15th Regiment of Illinois Militia. This system continued into the early days of the Civil War.

  • Citation: Turnbaugh, Dr. Roy C. Jr. and Robert E. Bailey. Windows to the Past: A Selection of Illinois County Records from 1818 to 1880. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1985. Document 4. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

The Mexican-American War

Resolution Concerning a Flag for the Chicago Invincibles, May 12th, 1846 / Transcription

  • Resolution providing financial support and backing for a group of volunteers known as the "Chicago Invincibles".

  • Citation: Bailey, Robert E. and Elaine Shemoney Evans. Early Chicago, 1833-1871 A Selection of City Council Proceedings Files. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 1999. Document 13. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 11/08/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc13.html