The Story of Illinois Becoming a State 200 Years Later (Events That Changed the Course of History Series)

Today, we think of Illinois as the Land of Lincoln, as the home of "the windy city" Chicago, and as the longtime residence of Barack Obama, our 44th president. But, 200 years ago, Illinois was the Wild West -- the frontier on the edge of the United States. It didn't have any major cities or any real influence over American politics.

Life in the area where Illinois is today was far from boring; it was fought over or claimed by the Indians, the French, the British, and even the state of Virgi...