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84-721: 6 companies (1812–1815) The Indiana Rangers , also known as the Indiana Territorial Mounted Rangers , were a mounted militia formed in 1807 and operated in the early part of the 19th century to defend settlers in Indiana Territory from attacks by Native Americans . The rangers were present at the Battle of Tippecanoe , and served as auxiliaries to the army during the War of 1812 . At the peak of their activities they numbered over 400 men. In 1807,

168-531: A Shawnee war party and Indiana militia under command of John Tipton in April 1813 on the White River near present-day Seymour, Indiana . In April 1813, during the War of 1812 , a Shawnee war party killed two white settlers eight miles from Fort Vallonia . The war party continued towards the fort, killing another settler and wounding three more. The Shawnee then put some distance between themselves and

252-475: A Shawnee war party killed two white settlers eight miles from Fort Vallonia . The war party continued towards the fort, killing another settler and wounding three more. The Shawnee then put some distance between themselves and the fort, but were soon pursued by 30 Indiana Rangers under Major John Tipton known as " Corydon 's Yellow Jackets ". The Shawnee crossed the flooded Driftwood River and, thinking they had lost their pursuers, set up camp on an island in

336-505: A campfire. One was killed and the other escaped, after critically wounding a Ranger. The Rangers withdrew to Fort Vallonia. The wounded ranger, a man named Hays, was brought back to the fort and later died from his wounds. Colonel William Russell used the Rangers to supplement his infantry in the 1812 Peoria War . That July, Rangers under General Bartholomew supplemented Colonel Russell's mounted force, which traveled 500 miles through

420-573: A chain of forts and enforce peace in the area. In the early morning of November 3, 1791, nearly a 1,000 Miamis, Shawnees, Delawares , and other warriors under the leadership of Chief Little Turtle launched a surprise attack on the American camp near the Miami town of Kekionga , costing the Americans nearly nine hundred casualties and forcing the militia's retreat. St. Clair's defeat in 1791 remains

504-641: A dollar a day, and those without horses were paid 75 cents a day. Following the end of the War of 1812, the Indiana Rangers were discharged from military service in June, 1815. One of the new ranger companies authorized in 1813 was commanded by Captain James Bigger, a veteran of the 1811 Battle of Tippecanoe , although he later had to go to court for recognition of his services with the Rangers. Another of

588-631: A law granting voting rights to all free adult males who paid county or territorial taxes and had resided in the territory for at least one year. Because of William Henry Harrison's leadership in securing passage of the Land Act of 1800 and his help in forming the Indiana Territory in 1800, while serving as the Northwest Territory's delegate to the U.S. Congress, it was not surprising that President John Adams chose him to become

672-429: A law in 1809 that allowed the territory's inhabitants to choose a delegate to Congress in a territory-wide election. Jonathan Jennings defeated Thomas Randolph, the territory's attorney general and Harrison's chosen candidate, in a highly contested race to become the territory's first popularly-elected representative to the U.S. Congress. Jennings was reelected to the post in 1811, 1812, and 1814, prior to his election as

756-539: A meager $ 2.47. To increase the treasury, tax levies were modified and new forms of revenue were established. These changes included reductions in some taxes, increases in others, and implementing licensing requirements for some types of business ventures in order to stabilize revenue. William Prince, the first territorial auditor, was also blamed for the territory's revenue shortage because he had failed to collect taxes from two territorial counties. Growth of territory's population helped improve its financial situation through

840-596: A separate territory, which Harrison opposed. In 1809, five years after Congress established the Michigan Territory, the St. Clair County settlers successfully petitioned Congress for the formation of a separate territory. Despite Harrison's disapproval, Congress approved the formation of the Illinois Territory from the western portion of the Indiana Territory, in addition to granting the inhabitants of

924-592: A small engagement against a war party that managed to escape. " Tipton's Island " became a term of ridicule. On June 11, 1813, Indiana General Joseph Bartholomew led a force of 137 Rangers to patrol the White River . Bartholomew and his Rangers raided the Native American Delaware villages destroying 1000 bushels of corn, and capturing 3 horses. No Native Americans were seen during the raid, until they found and attacked two Native Americans at

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1008-411: The 10th U.S. Congress to create the Illinois Territory in 1809, 4 counties in the Indiana Territory located within contemporary Indiana reported the following population counts: The Indiana Territory's government passed through a non-representative phase from 1800 to 1804; a semi-legislative second phase, which included the election of lower house of the territorial legislature, that extended through

1092-614: The Great Miami River . In addition, the eastern part of present-day Michigan was added to the Indiana Territory. The territory's geographical area was further reduced in 1805 with the creation of the Michigan Territory to the north, and in 1809 when the Illinois Territory was established to the west. In 1800 the Indiana Territory's total white population was 5,641, but its Native American population

1176-594: The Mississippi River ; nearly all of the Upper Peninsula and the western half of the Lower Peninsula of present-day Michigan ; and a narrow strip of land in present-day Ohio that was northwest of Fort Recovery. This latter parcel became part of Ohio when it attained statehood in 1803. The Indiana Territory's southeast boundary was shifted in 1803 when Ohio became a state, to the mouth of

1260-589: The U.S. Army's worst defeat by American Indians in history. Casualties included 623 federal soldiers killed and another 258 wounded; the Indian confederacy lost an estimated 100 men. In August 1794, General "Mad Anthony" Wayne organized the Legion of the United States and defeated a Native American force at the Battle of Fallen Timbers . The battle was a turning point for the Americans, who took control of

1344-628: The Indiana Rangers in 1809. As tensions between U.S. settlers and Native Americans increased, the Indiana Rangers were reactivated. Two Rangers companies were raised and stationed in Vincennes, Indiana . Prior to the War of 1812 , an Indiana Rangers detachment under Captain William Hargrove detained a British subject they believed was supporting indigenous resistance to white American settlers in Indiana. Resistance to U.S. colonization in

1428-470: The Indiana Territory by Native Americans became more frequent after the outbreak of war, which led to attacks such as the Pigeon Roost raid . During the war, the Rangers were used to augment larger American armies. General Samuel Hopkins utilized the Rangers in his Second Tippecanoe Campaign (1812), where several were killed at the Battle of Wild Cat Creek . In April 1813, during the War of 1812 ,

1512-573: The Indiana Territory caused a significant opposition from the Quakers who had settled in the eastern part of the territory. They responded by forming an anti-slavery party. Davis Floyd of Clark County was the only anti-slavery representative elected to the territory's House of Representatives in the 1805 election, but Harrison's measures to legalize slavery in the territory were blocked by the two representatives from St. Clair County, who refused to authorize slavery unless Harrison supported their request for

1596-407: The Indiana Territory the right to elect a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives and members of the territory's Legislative Council (upper house). Harrison, whose political power was reduced by these changes, found himself at odds with the territorial legislature when the anti-slavery party came to power after the 1809 elections. Voters promptly rebuffed many of his plans for slavery, and in 1810

1680-464: The Indiana Territory was divided to create the Illinois Territory, the U.S. Congress altered the makeup of the territorial legislature. The members of the House of Representatives continued to be elected by the territorial inhabitants and were apportioned in relation to each county's population, but membership in the five-member upper house (Legislative Council) was also by popular vote and apportioned among

1764-490: The Indiana territory destroying hostile Indian villages. The Americans had located an Indian stockade fort in Miami County Indiana and he burned it to the ground. Russell and his mounted raiders destroyed at least 5 enemy village bases. This raid lasted for about one month. After completing the raid, Russell and his fellow mounted raiders withdrew safely back to Fort Harrison. No Native Americans were seen during

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1848-586: The Larkins family was travelling along the Buffalo Trace when they were attacked by a band of Native Americans. The father was killed, and Mrs. Larkins and her five children were taken into captivity. The incident sparked outcries for better protection along the route, and Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison organized the Rangers to provide a fast response to attacks, primarily as a deterrent to random American Indian raids. The Rangers were modeled on

1932-596: The Native American tribes and was left unsettled. While Native Americans continued to cede large tracts of land in the Indiana Territory to the federal government, the Americans also expanded their ownership of lands farther west as a result of the Louisiana Purchase agreement with France. From October 1, 1804, until July 4, 1805, administrative powers of the District of Louisiana were extended to

2016-502: The Native inhabitants that ceded tribal lands to the U.S. government, opening large parts of the territory to further settlement. In 1809 the U.S. Congress established a bicameral legislative body for the territory that included a popularly-elected House of Representatives and a Legislative Council. In addition, the territorial government began planning for a basic transportation network and education system, but efforts to attain statehood for

2100-519: The Northwest Territory in advance of Ohio's statehood. At the time the Indiana Territory was formed, the two main American settlements in what would later become the state of Indiana were at Vincennes and Clark's Grant , while the settlement at Kaskaskia would later become a part of Illinois (but, because it is now west of the Mississippi River, is accessible only from Missouri . President John Adams appointed William Henry Harrison as

2184-500: The Ordinance of 1787 made no provision for a popularly-elected territorial government in the non-representative phase of territorial government (1800 to 1804). Instead of separate legislative and judicial branches of the territorial government, the U.S. Congress, and later, the president with congressional approval, had the authority to appoint a general court consisting of three territorial judges. The judges were initially appointed by

2268-591: The U.S. government. The Treaty of Vincennes (1803) was the first of several treaties that Harrison negotiated as territorial governor. Leaders from local tribes signed this treaty to recognize Americans' possession of the Vincennes tract, an area that George Rogers Clark had captured from the British during the American Revolutionary War . The Treaty of Grouseland (1805) further secured

2352-464: The U.S. government. As a result of the treaty, the Miamis considered themselves allies with the United States, and thousands of acres of newly ceded western lands attracted an increasing number of new settlers to what would become the Indiana Territory. The U.S. Congress passed legislation to form the Indiana Territory on May 7, 1800, effective July 4, 1800. The new territory was established by dividing

2436-638: The Wabash River to French Lick . The 2nd Division patrolled from French Lick to the Falls of the Ohio . One of their bases was at Cuzco, Indiana . The 3rd Division secured an area East along the Ohio River to Lawrenceburg, Indiana , on the Ohio border. All Rangers were paid $ 1 per day, and were required to supply their own horse, ammunition, tomahawk , a large and small knife, and a leather belt. Although

2520-543: The area near the strategically important Maumee–Wabash portage, as well as Fort Miami at Kekionga (rebuilt as Fort Wayne ). In addition, several other forts were built in the territory to maintain American control of the area. The Treaty of Greenville (1795) ended the Northwest Indian War and marked the beginning of a series of land cession treaties. Under the terms of this treaty, native tribes ceded southeastern Indiana and two-thirds of present-day Ohio to

2604-460: The breaking the point. The availability of low-cost federal land led to a rapid increase in the population of the territory, with thousands of new settlers entering the region every year. Large settlements began to spring up on the periphery of the territory around the Great Lakes, the Ohio River, the Wabash River, and the Mississippi River. Much of the interior, though, remained inhabited by

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2688-479: The circuit courts. James Noble was appointed to replace Sparks following Sparks' death in early 1815. When the Indiana Territory entered its semi-legislative phase of government, territorial inhabitants were allowed to elect representatives to the lower house of its bicameral legislature . President Jefferson delegated the task of choosing the five members of the Legislative Council (upper house of

2772-410: The collection of various taxes, including property taxes and taxes on sale of public lands. However, governmental expenses also increased as new counties and towns were formed, causing the need for new governmental offices and further increases in the government's overall size. The major political issue in Indiana's territorial history was slavery ; however, there were others, including Indian affairs,

2856-486: The east fork of the White River , just northeast of modern day Seymour. One of Tipton's scouts located the trail, however, and the rangers cautiously approached the river. Major Tipton ordered the rangers to maintain absolute silence, and tied one ranger to a tree when he kept talking. The Rangers took ambush positions along the bank of the river and opened fire. The Shawnee were taken by surprise, but returned fire for about half an hour. Few casualties were suffered due to

2940-458: The expedition, and no one in Russell's force was lost in the campaign. In 1813, the federal government authorized an additional four Ranger companies to secure Indiana Territory. The new companies consisted of 100 men each, and as before, they armed and equipped themselves. The officers of the rangers were paid the same as those regular army officers of the same rank. Those with horses were paid

3024-404: The federal government's possession of land in present-day south-central Indiana. After the signing of the contentious and disputed Treaty of Fort Wayne (1809) , in which Harrison acquired for the U.S. government more than 250,000,000 acres (100,000,000 hectares) of land in what later became central Indiana and eastern Illinois, tensions between the Native American and settlers on the frontier neared

3108-465: The firing distance across the river and the shelter provided by the wooded island. One Shawnee was killed and several were wounded, but three Shawnees drowned when they tried to swim across the flooded White River. The Rangers could not pursue the Shawnee across the river, so they returned to Fort Vallonia. There was a victory celebration, but as details of the skirmish emerged, it was determined to be

3192-403: The first governor of Indiana in 1816. In addition to the territorial governor and three judges, the office of secretary was established in 1800. Governor Harrison appointed a treasurer and attorney general in 1801 as the only additional government officials during the territory's non-representative phase of government. During the second phase, the office of territorial auditor was combined with

3276-498: The first governor of the territory on May 13, 1800, but Harrison did not arrive in the territory to begin his duties as governor until January 10, 1801. John Gibson , the territorial secretary, served as acting governor until Harrison's arrival at Vincennes. A three-member panel of judges called the General Court assisted the territorial governor. Together they served as both the highest legislative and judicial authority in

3360-400: The first governor of the territory. Presidents Adams, Thomas Jefferson , and James Madison made a total of three appointments to the office of governor of the Indiana Territory between July 4, 1800, when the territory was officially established, and November 7, 1816, when Jonathan Jennings was sworn in as the first governor of the state of Indiana . When the Indiana Territory was created,

3444-440: The first time on July 29, 1805. Governor Harrison retained his veto powers as well as his general executive and appointive authority, while the legislative assembly had the authority to pass laws, subject to the governor's approved before they could be enacted. The change in territorial governance also removed the territorial judges' legislative powers, leaving the territorial court with only its judicial authority. In 1809, after

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3528-467: The formation of northern and western territories from portions of the Indiana Territory, concerns about the lack of territorial self-government and representation in Congress, and ongoing criticisms of Harrison's actions as territorial governor. Most of these issues were resolved before Indiana achieved statehood. The formations of the Michigan Territory and the Illinois Territory ended the debate about

3612-412: The fort, but were soon pursued by 30 Indiana militiamen under Major John Tipton known as " Corydon 's Yellow Jackets ". The Shawnee crossed the flooded Driftwood River and, thinking they had lost their pursuers, set up camp on an island in the east fork of the White River , just northeast of modern day Seymour. One of Tipton's scouts located the trail, however, and the rangers cautiously approached

3696-678: The government made the decision to relocate the territorial capital to Corydon. Construction on the capitol building began in 1814 and was nearly finished by 1816. The area that became the Indiana Territory was once part of the Northwest Territory , which the Congress of the Confederation formed under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance on July 13, 1787. This ordinance outlined the basis for government in

3780-485: The governor and judges of the Indiana Territory as a temporary measure to establish a civil government for the newly purchased lands. The district encompassed all of the Louisiana Purchase lands north of the 33rd parallel , which serves as the present-day border between the states of Arkansas and Louisiana . Battle of Tipton%27s Island The Battle of Tipton's Island was an engagement between

3864-545: The land claim was transferred to the Indiana Land Company and offered for sale; however, the government of Virginia disputed the claim, arguing that it was the rightful owner because the land fell within its boundaries. The United States Supreme Court took up the case and extinguished the company's right to the land in 1798. Two years later, Congress applied the Indiana Land Company's name to

3948-529: The legislature) to the governor, who chose from a list of ten candidates provided by the lower house. After the formation of the new legislative body, each county in the territory was granted the right to elect representatives to the House of Representatives (the legislative assembly's lower house). The lower house initially included seven representatives: one from Dearborn County, one from Clark County, two from Knox County, two from St. Clair County, and one from Randolph County. The territorial legislature met for

4032-457: The meantime, Major Jean François Hamtramck led an expedition from Fort Knox to Wea , Potawatomi , and Kickapoo villages on the Wabash , Vermilion , and Eel Rivers, but his company lacked sufficient provisions to continue, forcing a return to Vincennes. In 1791 Major General Arthur St. Clair , the governor of the Northwest Territory, commanded about 2,700 men in a campaign to establish

4116-426: The mounted militia units lacked uniformity, the men—and sometimes women—were well trained. In keeping with their mission, the Indiana Rangers were involved in numerous incidents involving Native Americans. Native Americans and white settlers were considered to be at peace during this time, and the early Rangers were so effective that clashes between Native Americans and white settlers effectively ended. Harrison disbanded

4200-561: The mounted troops used by General Anthony Wayne at the Battle of Fallen Timbers . The primary objective of the Rangers was to safeguard the Buffalo Trace, the main transportation route between Louisville, Kentucky and the Indiana Territory's capital of Vincennes, Indiana (and Illinois Territory ), starting on April 20, 1807. The first Indiana Rangers who patrolled the road in 1807 did so on foot. The Rangers had three divisions: Captain William Hargrove's 1st Division patrolled from

4284-487: The mouth of the Kentucky River , extending northeast to Fort Recovery in present-day western Ohio , and north to the border between the United States and Canada along a line approximately 84 degrees 45 minutes West longitude. The territory initially included most of the present-day state of Indiana ; all of present-day states of Illinois and Wisconsin ; fragments of present-day Minnesota that were east of

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4368-534: The new capital. On March 11, 1813, the territorial legislature selected Corydon as the new seat of government for the territory, effective May 1, 1813. Harrison favored Corydon, a town he had founded, named, and where he owned an estate . In 1813, after it was brought to the territorial legislature's attention that plans were underway to construct a new county courthouse in Corydon and the new building could also be used for its assemblies (a significant cost savings),

4452-452: The new rangers was John Ketcham , who built Ketcham's Fort and would later become a judge. John Tipton served as a major in command of two companies of rangers at Fort Vallonia during the War of 1812. He would later become a United States senator, and is the namesake of Tipton and Tipton County, Indiana . The Indiana Rangers inspired the creation of the more famous Texas Rangers . The 151st Infantry Regiment traces its heritage to

4536-659: The new territory. Passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 committed the U.S. government to continued plans for western expansion. Increasing tensions with the Native Americans who occupied the western lands erupted into the Northwest Indian War. During the autumn of 1790, American forces under the command of General Josiah Harmar unsuccessfully pursued the Miami tribe near present-day Fort Wayne, Indiana , but had to retreat. In

4620-557: The office of territorial treasurer. The territory also had a chancellor during most of this period. Secretary Auditor Treasurer Attorney General During the non-legislative phase, the federal government paid the salaries of the governor, the three-member judicial council, and the territorial secretary, which cost about $ 5,500 per year. In addition, a small fund of approximately $ 200 covered other expenses such as printing, postage, and rent. The federal government did not provide funds for any additional governmental offices such as

4704-443: The ongoing hostilities with Native Americans and the War of 1812 ; and a final period, when the territory's population increased and its residents successfully petitioned Congress for statehood in 1816. Under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance, the territorial government went through 3 phases prior to statehood: In 1803, when the Indiana Territory was formed from the remaining Northwest Territory after Ohio attained statehood,

4788-522: The opposition party, led by Congressman Jonathan Jennings , dominated territorial affairs in its final years and began pressing for statehood. In June 1816 a constitutional convention was held at Corydon, where a state constitution was adopted on June 29, 1816. General elections were held in August to fill offices for the new state government, the new officeholders were sworn into office in November, and

4872-575: The pre-statehood Indiana Rangers. The motto of the regiment, "Wide Awake – Wide Awake!" was earned at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Delta Company (Ranger) was the only National Guard Infantry unit to serve intact in Vietnam during the Vietnam War , and called itself the Indiana Rangers. Indiana Territory William Henry Harrison , the territory's first governor, oversaw treaty negotiations with

4956-411: The president who later delegated this authority to the territorial governor. Adams chose William Clarke, Henry Vanderburgh , and John Griffin as the territory's first three judges. Following Clarke's death in November 1802, Thomas T. Davis was appointed as his replacement. Acting as the combined judicial and legislative government, the territorial governor and the three judges adopted the laws to govern

5040-400: The requirement for proceeding to the semi-legislative phase of territorial government was modified. Instead of requiring the territory's population to reach 5,000 free adult males, the second phase could be initiated when the majority of territory's free landholders informed the territorial governor that they wanted to do so. In 1810 the requirement for voters to be landholders was replaced with

5124-455: The right to debate, submit legislation, and serve on committees, but they were not permitted to vote on legislation. When the Indiana Territory entered its second phase of governance, the territory's legislative assembly elected Benjamin Parke as its delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. Jesse B. Thomas was appointed to the post following Parke's resignation in 1808. Congress approved

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5208-414: The river. Major Tipton ordered the rangers to maintain absolute silence, and tied one ranger to a tree when he kept talking. The militia took positions along the bank of the river and opened fire. The Shawnee were taken by surprise, but returned fire for about half an hour. Few casualties were suffered due to the firing distance across the river and the shelter provided by the wooded island. One Shawnee

5292-399: The suspension in order to make the region more appealing to slave-holding settlers and ultimately make the territory economically viable by increasing its population. In addition, the petition requested that the slaves and their children brought into the territory during the suspension period should remain slaves even after the suspension ended. Benjamin Parke, a pro-slavery supporter who became

5376-524: The terms of the Northwest Ordinance of 1796. Because Harrison's political fortunes were tied to Indiana's rise to statehood, he was eager to expand the territory. In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson granted Harrison the authority to negotiate and conclude treaties with the Native American tribes in the territory. Harrison oversaw the establishment of thirteen treaties that ceded more than 60,000,000 acres (24,000,000 hectares) of land from Native American tribes, including most present-day southern Indiana , to

5460-399: The territorial government. Territorial revenue fell to critical levels due to the War of 1812, when many of the territory's taxpayers were unable to pay what they owed, and their land reverted to the federal government. Financial issues also caused the movement for statehood to be delayed until after the war's end. At one point during 1813, for example, the balance in territory's treasury was

5544-409: The territorial legislature repealed the indenturing laws that Harrison and the judicial court had enacted in 1803. The capital of the Indiana Territory remained in Vincennes from 1800 to 1813, when the territorial legislature moved it to Corydon . After the Illinois Territory was formed from the western portion of the Indiana Territory in 1809, Vincennes, which was initially situated in the center of

5628-419: The territory to be brought into the territory and bound into service for fixed terms set by the slave owner. After the territory was granted representation in Congress in 1805, Parke was able to get Congress to pass legislation to suspend Article Six for ten years, granting the territories covered under the ordinance the ability to legalize slavery in their territories. Harrison's attempts to allow slavery in

5712-511: The territory was dissolved. On December 11, 1816, President James Madison signed the congressional act that formally admitted Indiana to the Union as the nineteenth state. When the Indiana Territory was formed in 1800, its original boundaries included the western portion of the Northwest Territory. This encompassed an area northwest of a line beginning at the Ohio River , on the bank opposite

5796-483: The territory was limited, with the primary source of funds coming from the sale of federal lands. Other revenue came from the collection of duties, licenses, and excise taxes. In 1811 property taxes collected from landowners were based on the numbers of acres and its rating; previously, these taxes were based on land values. Taxes were also collected for territorial counties to use. After 1815 taxes were levied on some types of manufactured goods to provide additional funds for

5880-402: The territory were delayed due to war. At the outbreak of Tecumseh's War , when the territory was on the front line of battle, Harrison led a military force in the opening hostilities at the Battle of Tippecanoe (1811) and in the subsequent invasion of Canada during the War of 1812 . After Harrison resigned as the territorial governor, Thomas Posey was appointed to the vacant governorship, but

5964-465: The territory's counties. Harrison County, established in 1808 from portions of Knox and Clark counties, elected one representative to the lower house; Clark and Dearborn counties each had two representatives; and the more populated Knox County had three. This bicameral legislative structure remained unchanged for the remainder of the territory's existence. Territorial delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives could attend congressional sessions with

6048-466: The territory's first representative in Congress in 1805, carried the petition to Washington, D.C.; however, Congress failed to take action, leaving Harrison and the territorial judges to pursue other options. In 1803 Harrison and the general court judges passed legislation that evaded the Ordinance of 1787 in order permit slavery in the Indiana Territory through the use of indentured servitude laws. The bill allowed adult slaves owned or purchased outside

6132-400: The territory's geographical size. In the second phase of territorial governance, the increasing democratization of the government shifted the authority initially placed in the hands of the territorial governor and a judicial council to a legislative branch of elected representatives and a delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. The debate over the issue of allowing slavery in the territory

6216-426: The territory's population increased. By 1810 the Indiana Territory's enumerated population reached 24,520, even after the territory's size had been reduced with formation of the Michigan Territory (1805) and Illinois Territory (1809). When the Indiana Territory petitioned for statehood in 1816, its population was spread among fifteen counties and exceeded 60,000 people, which was the minimum required for statehood under

6300-435: The territory, was now on its far west edge. The territorial legislature was also becoming increasingly fearful that the outbreak of the War of 1812 could cause an attack on Vincennes, resulting in their decision to move the seat of government to a location closer to the territory's population center. In addition to Corydon, the towns of Madison , Lawrenceburg , Vevay , and Jeffersonville were considered as potential sites for

6384-584: The territory. As governor of a territory of the first stage, which was outlined in the Northwest Ordinance , Harrison had wide-ranging powers in the new territory that included the authority to appoint all territorial officials and members of the territorial General Assembly. He also had the authority to divide the territory into districts. Vincennes, the territory's oldest settlement and among its largest with 714 townspeople in 1800, became its first territorial capital. The former French trading post

6468-536: The territory. In addition to working with the territorial governor on legislative issues, the territorial judges presided over the general court. When the Indiana Territory entered the semi-legislative phase of government in 1805, the legislature gradually became the dominant branch, and the judges focused on judicial matters. In 1814, as the territory progressed toward statehood, three circuit courts were established. Governor Posey appointed Isaac Blackford , Jesse Lynch Holman , and Elijah Sparks as presiding judges over

6552-632: The treasurer and attorney general. Salaries for these officials were paid from the territory's treasury. In the semi-legislative phase, the federal government paid the salaries of the territorial governor, judges, and secretary at a cost of approximately $ 6,687 per year. The territorial treasury was responsible for funding legislative expenses, as well as the salaries of the treasurer, auditor, attorney general, and chancellor. The territorial treasurer also paid operational expenses such as printing, rent, stationery, and other supplies and services. These expenses were estimated to cost $ 10,000 per year. Revenue for

6636-601: The western lands and also provided for an administrative structure to oversee the territory, including a three-stage process for transitioning from territory to statehood. In addition, the Land Ordinance of 1785 called for the U.S. government to survey the newly acquired territory for future sale and development. The Northwest Territory, which initially included land bounded by the Appalachian Mountains , Mississippi River , Great Lakes , and Ohio River ,

6720-544: The word Indiana dates from 1768, when the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy reserved about 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) of land in the present-day state of West Virginia and deeded it to a twenty-five-member Philadelphia -based trading company that engaged in trade with the native tribes in the Ohio River valley. The company named their land claim Indiana, in honor of its previous owners. In 1776

6804-441: Was also one of the few white settlements in the territory. Indiana Territory began with four counties: Saint Clair and Randolph County , which became part of present-day Illinois; Knox in present-day Indiana; Wayne County , which became part of present-day Michigan. Governor Harrison formed Clark County , the first new county in the territory, out of the eastern portion of Knox County. Additional counties were established as

6888-403: Was estimated to be near 20,000, possibly as high as 75,000. In the 1800 United States census , 4 counties in the Indiana Territory (2 of which were located in contemporary Illinois and 1 in contemporary Michigan) reported the following counts: In the 1810 United States census , following the passage of organic acts by the 9th U.S. Congress to create the Michigan Territory in 1805 and by

6972-421: Was settled in 1810; however, criticism of Governor Harrison continued, even after much of his authority was transferred to territorial legislators and judges. In December 1802 delegates from Indiana Territory's four counties passed a resolution in favor of a ten-year suspension of Article Six of the Northwest Ordinance, which prohibited slavery in the original Northwest Territory. They also petitioned Congress for

7056-507: Was subsequently partitioned into smaller territories that included the Indiana Territory (1800), Michigan Territory (1805), the Illinois Territory (1809), and eventually became the present-day states of Ohio , Michigan , Indiana , Illinois , Wisconsin , and eastern Minnesota . Indiana , meaning "Land of the Indians", references the fact that most of the area north of the Ohio River was still inhabited by Native Americans. Formal use of

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