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The Making of the 50 States: Alabama

 

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Part 2: The Rest of the Story

Like so many other states, Alabama's European claims changed drastically with the end of the French and Indian War. Great Britain took over most French claims, with part of the Alabama territory becoming part of West Florida. The bulk of Alabama became American after the Revolutionary War. The settlement of the territory by Americans quickened and included newspapers and schools in Huntsville and Mobile. Only West Florida remained in dispute, since Great Britain had signed it over to both Spain and the United States.

During the War of 1812, though, many Native Americans in Alabama sided with Great Britain and fought a large handful of battles against American troops. This was known as the Creek War, and the largest of these battles was the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, which was won by Andrew Jackson and his soldiers.

Spain and neighboring states still claimed bits and pieces of today's Alabama until 1813, when a combination of treaties and American soldiers brought all of Alabama under American supervision. Four years later, the Mississippi Territory was divided into Mississippi and Alabama. Mississippi became a state. The Alabama Territory had its headquarters at St. Stephens. Alabama became a state, the 22nd of the Union, on December 14, 1819. Territorial Governor William Wyatt Bibb became the first governor of the state.

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