Pre-Statehood Era - Business and Economy

Pre-Statehood Era: 1700-1818

• Pre-Statehood Era- Government
• Pre-Statehood Era- Society and Culture
• Pre-Statehood Era- Business and Economy
• Pre-Statehood Era- Race Relations

Early Statehood: 1818-1861

• Early Statehood- Government
• Early Statehood- Society and Culture
• Early Statehood- Business and Economy
• Early Statehood- Race Relations

Civil War Era: 1861-1865

• Civil War- Government
• Civil War- Society and Culture
• Civil War- Business and Economy
• Civil War- Race Relations

Late 19th Century: 1866-1900

• Late 19th Century- Government
• Late 19th Century- Society and Culture
• Late 19th Century- Business and Economics
• Late 19th Century- Race Relations

Early 20th Century: 1900-1914

• Early 20th Century- Government
• Early 20th Century- Society and Culture
• Early 20th Century- Business and Economy
• Early 20th Century- Race Relations

World War I: 1914-1918

• World War I- Government
• World War I- Society and Culture
• World War I- Business and Economy
• World War I- Race Relations

Roaring Twenties: 1918-1929

• Roaring Twenties- Government
• Roaring Twenties- Society and Culture
• Roaring Twenties- Business and Economy

Great Depression: 1930-1941

• Great Depression- Government
• Great Depression- Society and Culture
• Great Depression- Business and Economy
• Great Depression- Race Relations

World War II: 1941-1945

• World War II- Government
• World War II- Society and Culture
• World War II- Business and Economy
• World War II- Race Relations

Cold War Era: 1946-1991

• Cold War Era- Government
• Cold War Era- Race Relations

Millennium: 1991-Present

• Millennium- Government
• Millennium- Race Relations

Lesson Plans

• Lesson Plans
• Discussion Questions
• Historic Literature
• Civilian Conservation Corps

Resources

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• Citing the Source

Agriculture

A Topographical Description on Illinois, 1778

• This portion of a book by Thomas Hutchins describes the types of agriculture than can be conducted in Illinois, and generally goes over the topography of the region. 

• Citation: Hutchins, Thomas, ed. Fraderick Charles Hicks. A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina: Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1778. Cleveland, OH: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1904. 108-115.

Excerpt from Morris Birkbeck's Notes on a Journey from the Coast of Virginia to the Territory of Illinois

• Morris Birkbeck was an Englishman and prolific writer who settled in Illinois. He published his Notes in 1818. In this excerpt, he discusses the economic state of the farmer and the prices for various foodstuffs.

• Citation: Quaife, Milo Milton, ed. Pictures of Illinois One Hundred Years Ago. Chicago: The Lakeside Press, 1818. 25-27.

Industry and Labor

Journal Entry of Mr. Patrick Kennedy, 1773

• This journal entry tracks Mr. Kennedy's expeditions into the head water of the Illinois River in search of a copper mine. 

• Citation: Hutchins, Thomas, ed. Frederick Charles Hicks. A Topographical Description of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and North Carolina: Reprinted from the Original Edition of 1778. Cleveland, OH: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1904. 122-133.

Transportation

Roads

Act Concerning Bridge Building Authorization, 1817

• This act permits William Morrison to build a bridge that made it possible to cross the Kaskaskia River at a point convenient for reaching the, at the time, soon-to-be-built Washington County seat. He offered to do so at his own expense, but was permitted to charge tolls to people who were crossing the bridge.

• Citation: Philbrick, Francis S. The Laws of Illinois Territory 1809-1818. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Library, 1950. 310-311. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.