Alabama Territory

The Territory of Alabama (sometimes Alabama Territory^[n]) was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 15, 1817, until December 14, 1819, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Alabama.^[1][2][3]

History

Although the Alabama Territory was designated by an Act of Congress on 3 March 1817, it did not become effective until 5 months later on 15 August 1817.^[1][3] The delay was due to a provision in the Congressional Act which stated that the Act would take effect only if and when Mississippi formed a State Constitution. That event took place on 15 August 1817,^[1] with Mississippi Territory becoming the State of Mississippi on December 10, 1817.

Located in the central area of the Alabama Territory, St. Stephens, on the Tombigbee River, was the only territorial capital. William Wyatt Bibb was the only territorial governor.

On December 14, 1819, two years and four months after the Alabama Territory was created, Alabama was admitted to the union as the 22nd U.S. state,^[2] with William Wyatt Bibb also becoming the first state governor (1819–1820).

See also

• Historic regions of the United States
• History of Alabama
• Mobile District
• Territorial evolution of the United States
  • Territories of Spain that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:
    • La Florida, 1565–1763
    • Florida Occidental, 1783–1821
  • Territory of the United Kingdom that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:
    • West Florida, 1763–1783
  • U.S. states that ceded territorial claims that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:
    • State of South Carolina, 1787
    • State of Georgia, 1803 (sold the Yazoo lands to the U.S.)
  • U.S. territory with land that would later become part of the Territory of Alabama:
    • Territory of Mississippi, 1798–1817
  • U.S. state created from the Territory of Alabama:
    • State of Alabama, December 14, 1819

Notes

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "An 1820 Claim to Congress: Alabama Territory : 1817", The Intruders, TNGenNet Inc., 2001, quick webpage: TN-537.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Timeline 1811-1820" (events +sources), Algis Ratnikas, Timelines of History, 2007, webpage: TL-Miss.
3. ^ ^{a b} "Statehood Dates", 50states.com, 1998/2009, webpage: 50s-statehood.

• An Act To Establish A Separate Territorial Government For The Eastern Part Of The Mississippi Territory.
• Williams, Lewis & al. "An 1820 Claim to Congress: Alabama Territory : 1817." Op. cit. Gales & Seaton. American State Papers. Washington: 1834. (retrieved 21 February 2010)