1656 map showing the uncharted west
Western U.S. shown in 1776 map
Early State Border Marker U.S. Highway 65
Sectional Map of Iowa, 1850
The Old Capitol, pre-1900
Land Ownership
Iowa Becomes a Territory
Iowa Government is Formed
Iowa Assembly Meets
Iowa and Missouri Dispute Border
Iowa Moves Toward Statehood
Iowa Boundary Debate
Iowa Becomes a StateThe Path to Statehood
The Northwest Ordinance
Early
in its history the U.S. Congress set up an orderly way for western lands to
become states. Senators and representatives in Congress remembered how unhappy
the American colonists were under Great Britain’s rule. They were so
unhappy that they fought the American Revolution to become free of Great Britain.
One of the most important acts that Congress passed was the Northwest Ordinance
of 1787. It set up a system of government for the territory that became the
states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. It was a model
for other U.S. territories to follow when they wanted to become states.
When the American Revolution ended, the United States owned the land east
of the Mississippi River and south of the Great Lakes. Because this area was
beyond the borders of the original 13 states, it became the responsibility
of the federal government.
Many settlers were moving west. Congress knew that the settlers would need
a government in their new home. A plan for setting up a government was made.
Until
the population of an area reached 5,000 voters, the region was a district.
At this time, only free white males were voters. It was ruled by a governor and three
judges. The settlers did not vote for them. The president appointed them.
When the population reached 5,000 the settlers could elect their own legislature.
The area was called a territory. The governor, however, was still appointed,
not elected by the voters. The territory could also elect a representative
to Congress. The representative could speak on issues in Congress but had
no vote. When the population reached 60,000 the territory could apply for
full statehood.
Iowa Follows the Law
Iowa’s path to statehood followed
the steps laid out in the Northwest Ordinance. In 1834 the land that would
become Iowa was attached to the Michigan Territory. In 1836 as Michigan prepared
for its own admission as a state, Iowa was transferred to the Wisconsin Territory.
With more and more settlers crossing the Mississippi River, a separate Iowa
Territory was formed on July 4, 1838. Its boundaries stretched far north of
the current border. It went into Minnesota and the Dakotas. Because the population
had already reached 22,859 the settlers had the right to elect their own legislature.
Governors Are Appointed
President Martin Van Buren, a Democrat,
appointed Robert Lucas as Iowa’s first territorial governor. Burlington
became the first capital. In 1840 William Henry Harrison, a member of the
Whig Party, became president. He appointed another Whig, John Chambers, Iowa’s
second territorial governor. The territorial capital was moved to Iowa City.
Both Lucas and Chambers urged Iowans to push for statehood. But many settlers
were in no hurry. As long as Iowa was a territory, the federal government
paid the costs of much of the government. If Iowa became a state, the settlers’
taxes would pay for much of the government. Early settlers did not want to
see their tax bills increase. Iowans in the Whig party were happy to have
a Whig president appoint the governor. They feared that the Democrats would
win an election for governor if Iowa became a state.
Interest in Statehood Increases
In 1844 the nation elected James K. Polk president. Because Polk was a Democrat, Iowa soon got a new territorial governor, James Clarke. By this time the population had increased to over 75,000. There was growing interest in the statehood question. With more people to share the cost of government, fears of rising tax bills were not such an issue.
Iowa Territory and Slavery
During these years the issue of
slavery was deeply dividing the United States. Slavery was forbidden in the
Iowa territory. But Iowans could not escape the national debate.
A plan in the United States Senate had been worked out. There would be an
equal number of senators from the free states in the North and the slave states
in the South. Every time a new slave state was added, a new free state had
to be admitted.
That meant that if Iowa entered the Union, it needed to find a match from
the South. Florida was available, but if Iowa waited there might not be another
slave state available for some time. When Florida became a state in 1845,
the pressure was on Iowa.
Slavery Affects the Size of Iowa
Slavery shaped the debate over Iowa
statehood in a second way. Iowans originally proposed borders for the state
that made Iowa larger than it is today. The northern border stretched up to
include Minneapolis/St. Paul in Minnesota. But representatives of northern
states wanted smaller borders for Iowa. That would leave more land for additional
“free” states west of the Mississippi.
They wanted a western border for Iowa about 60 miles east of the Missouri
River and slightly north of the current Minnesota border. Iowans refused to
accept that plan. Finally a plan was worked out giving Iowa its current shape.
The State of Iowa
Iowans wrote and approved a state
constitution. Congress approved it. On December 28, 1846, President James
K. Polk signed a law making Iowa the 29th state.
Almost 60 years after the passage of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, Iowa
completed all the requirements for statehood. Iowa citizens could vote for
president. They could elect senators and representatives to Congress. They
had a state legislature. They could elect their own governor and judges.
While the details of each state’s history varied, the process after
1787 was the same. American settlers knew that they were not leaving their
citizenship behind when they moved into the western territories.
Sources:
- Sage, Leland. A History of Iowa. Ames: Iowa State Press, 1974.
- Wall, Joseph. Iowa: A Bicentennial History. New York: Norton, 1978.
- Schwieder, Dorothy. Iowa: The Middle Land. Ames: Iowa State Press, 1996.
