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Early Statehood - Business and Economy

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

Agriculture

Excerpt from J.M. Peck's A New Guide for Emigrants to the West, 1836

  • J.M. Peck wrote this manual for people settling the states of Ohio, Indiana, Missouri, and Illinois, as well as the territories of Wisconsin and Arkansas. In this short excerpt, he describes how to set up a farm in Illinois.

  • Citation: Peck, J.M. A new guide for emigrants to the West: containing sketches of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Michigan, with the territories of Wisconsin and Arkansas, and the adjacent parts. Boston: Gould, Kendall & Lincoln, 1836. 312-313.

Effingham County Estray Record 1845 / Transcription

  • People who found and kept stray livestock (estrays) were required by law to report their finds to a justice of the peace. The justice recorded a description of the animal, the name and residence of the finder, and the appraised value of the animal. Public notice of the find was then given. If no one claimed the animal after one year, it became the property of the finder. If the owner claimed the animal, he was required to reimburse the finder for the cost of keeping the stock.

  • 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 14. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Marks and Brands Record, Calhoun County, 1858 / Transcription

  • "A state law required county clerks to maintain a book, which recorded ear marks on cattle, horses, hogs, sheep, and goats. To encourage registration owners were paid 12.5 cents for their participation. Marking was necessary when stock was allowed to graze freely without fencing."

  • 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 20. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Banks and Economy

Constitution of 1818, Article VIII Section 21

  • The chartering of new banks was prohibited, except for a state bank which could be established at any time. 

Panic of 1837

An Act to Suspend, for a limited time, Certain Laws in Relation to the Banks of this State, July 21st, 1837

  • In response to the Panic, the state legislature modified banking laws. Seven conditions were established: retain dividends as additional security, do not dispose of specie (metal of monetary value) except to make change, release a monthly public financial statement, do not introduce new currency, continue to conduct state transactions, allow citizens to pay their debts to banks in installments, and any violation will result in the forfeiture of a bank's charter.

  • Citation: Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Tenth General Assembly, at Their Special Session Commencing July 10, and Ending July 22, 1837. Vandalia, IL: William Walters, Public Printer, 1837. 6-7.

Abraham Lincoln Salary Warrant for Service as a State Representative, July 22nd, 1837 / Transcript

  • A salary warrant was a paycheck. This one was issued to Lincoln for attending a special session of the General Assembly to resolve the financial panic and large debt the state was experiencing.

  • Citation: Illinois State Archives Staff. Abraham Lincoln in Illinois: A Selection of Documents From the Illinois State Archives. Springfield: Illinois State Archives, 2008. Document 10. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed on 09/17/2016. http://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc10.html

Council Actions in Relation to the City Scrip, 1837 / Transcription

  • Document discusses Chicago city council decisions to issue scrip between May and November of 1837. Scrip was issued as currency in the Chicago area to replace the devalued bank notes in the city, as much of the economy was based on speculation, not industry.

  • 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 3. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc3.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. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Document 15. Accessed 09/17/2016. 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 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc18.html

An Act to establish a general system of banking, 1851

  • This act was patterned on the free banking system of New York and provided that the auditor of public accounts should obtain a supply of circulating notes to be issued to persons complying with its provisions. Governor French vetoed this act, but the Illinois legislature had enough votes to override the veto. For more detailed background information, consult George William Dowrie, The Development of Banking in Illinois, 1817-1863.

  • Citation: General Laws of the State of Illinois, Passed by the Seventeenth General Assembly, at the Session Commencing January 6, 1851. Springfield, IL: Lanphier & Walker, Printers, 1851. 163-175.

Tax Statistics, September 26th, 1853 / Transcription

  • Tax information for Chicago in 1953. Information includes: property valuation, city, school, interest, building, water, market, lamp, real estate, and total tax for the south, north, and west divisions of the city.

  • 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 24. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc24.html

Communication Concerning Issuance of Bonds, May 25th,  1855 / Transcription

  • Common Council communication advocating issuing bonds to help pay for municipal debts, including buildings, health, sanitation, and police.

  • 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 31. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc31.html

Transportation

Roads

Tavern License of Nathan Cromwell, Sangamon County, 1827 / Transcription

  • In 1823, state law established standards for licensing taverns. The tavern keeper had to put up a $300 bond, provide food and lodging as well as drink, forbid disorder or gambling, state and post his rates, and not sell liquor to Native Americans, slaves, servants, or minors under the age of 21. If a tavern keeper violated these rules, they could be fined or have their license revoked. The Sangamon County Commissioners Office issued this license.

  • 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 5. 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 09/16/2016. 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 09/17/2016. 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, (sometimes 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 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/abraham_lincoln/doc4.html

Schuyler County Road Supervisor’s Report, 1835 / Transcription

  • Roads were built and maintained by a tax on local citizens who owned property, payable in labor or cash. If a man chose to discharge his tax by working, he was ordered to report to a particular section of road and was credited with 75 cents for an eight hour day. This provision for payment in labor was dropped in 1883. In 1835 the tax was 15 cents for every 20 acres of land. Note that a woman, Elizabeth Bartlow, is listed as a landowner.

  • 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.

Bridge Drawing, Fayette County, 1850 / Transcription

  • This bridge was built across the Kaskaskia River. The National Road began at Cumberland, Maryland and ended at Vandalia, Illinois; now U.S. Highway 40. It was started in 1815, and construction ended at approximately the same time that this bridge was planned. Bridges from this period were usually solidly built, initially of stone or wood and later of iron.

  • 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 15. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Petition for a License to Exhibit a Panorama of the Overland Route to California, March 27th, 1851 / Transcription

  • During the California gold rush, Chicago became a major overland stop to get to California from the east coast. This is a petition for a license to display a panorama of this route and make it available to the public.

  • 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 20. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc20.html

Railroads

Communication from the City Council of Galena Relating to a Railroad, May 16th, 1843 / Transcription

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.

Invitation of the Illinois Central Railroad Company, April 26th, 1855 / Transcription

  • Invitation from the Illinois Central Railroad Company to the city council and mayor of Chicago to come to Cairo, IL for a celebration of the completed railroad route.

  • 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 29. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc29.html

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

  • This document serves as evidence of how rural areas pursued economic development through internal improvements in the nineteenth 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.

Canals and River Ways

Map of the "Canal Town" of Chicago, August 4th, 1830

  • This map shows the original Town of Chicago, the eastern terminus of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, as surveyed by James Thompson by order of the Commissioners. His plat showing purchasers of lots, filed August 4th, 1830. "The Forks," not the Public Square, was the center of population at this time.

  • Citation: Putnam, James William. The Illinois and Michigan Canal. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1918.

Letter from Martin Van Buren, May 12th, 1842 / Transcription

  • Reply from Martin Van Buren to visit Chicago on his way back to his home from a trip. His reply he wanted to visit and would make every effort to.

  • 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 6. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc6.html

Photo of Chicago Harbor, March 12th, 1849

  • This photo shows shipping crowded at the mouth of the Chicago River by the flood in the Des Plaines March 12th, 1849. This is probably the earliest camera view of the river in existence, the original being a daguerreotype by P. von Schneidau. Fort Dearborn is shown at the right.

  • Citation: Putnam, James William. The Illinois and Michigan Canal. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1918.

Communication Regarding the Chicago Harbor, March 30th, 1849 / Transcription

  • Discusses issues with the navigation of the Chicago harbor and it's condition. Several repairs are suggested.

  • 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 16. Used by permission of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Accessed 09/17/2016. https://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/teaching_packages/early_chicago/doc16.html

Other

Travels in Illinois in 1819

  • In 1819, a German named named Ferdinand Ernst traveled through the United States. He published an account of his journey in Hanover in 1823. This excerpt describes the variety of methods for transportation available in Illinois.

  • Citation: Illinois State Historical Library Board of Trustees. Transactions of the Illinois State Historical Society for the Year 1903. Springfield, IL: Phillips Brothers, 1904. 150-165.