| Although inhabited by Native Americans in
| |
| | active in Kentucky. Between 1867 and
|
| prehistoric times, when explorers and
| |
| | 1881, the Frankfort Weekly Commonwealth
|
| settlers began entering Kentucky in the
| |
| | newspaper reported 115 incidents of
|
| mid-1700s, there were no permanent Native
| |
| | shooting, lynching, and whipping of
|
| American settlements in the region.
| |
| | blacks.
|
| Instead, the country was used as hunting
| |
| | Reconstruction also saw the establishment
|
| grounds by Shawnees from the north and
| |
| | of movements favoring equal citizenship
|
| Cherokees from the south. The first
| |
| | for blacks and women's suffrage. Laura
|
| documented exploration of the area that
| |
| | Clay, daughter of noted abolitionist
|
| would become Kentucky was made in 1750 by
| |
| | Cassius Clay, was an active leader in the
|
| a scouting party led by Dr. Thomas
| |
| | suffrage movement.
|
| Walker. Much of what is now Kentucky was
| |
| | Kentucky's hemp industry declined as
|
| purchased from Native Americans in the
| |
| | manila became the world's primary source
|
| treaties of Fort Stanwix (1768) and
| |
| | of rope fiber. This lead to an increase
|
| Sycamore Shoals (1775).
| |
| | in tobacco production, which was already
|
| Thereafter, Kentucky grew rapidly as the
| |
| | the largest cash crop of Kentucky.
|
| first settlements west of the Appalachian
| |
| | Assassination of Governor William Goebel
|
| Mountains were founded, with settlers
| |
| | The election of William S. Taylor as
|
| (primarily from Virginia, North Carolina,
| |
| | Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
|
| and Pennsylvania) entering the region via
| |
| | on the Republican Party ticket in 1899
|
| the Cumberland Gap and the Ohio River.
| |
| | was an unexpected turn of events. To
|
| The most famous of these early explorers
| |
| | date, this is the closest gubernatorial
|
| and settlers was Daniel Boone,
| |
| | election in Kentucky history. Supporters
|
| traditionally considered one of the
| |
| | of William Goebel, his Democratic Party
|
| founders of the state. Shawnees north of
| |
| | opponent, contested the election.
|
| the Ohio River, however, were unhappy
| |
| | The Kentucky Senate formed a special
|
| about the settlement of Kentucky, and
| |
| | Committee of Inquiry packed with
|
| allied themselves with the British in the
| |
| | Democratic members. It was apparent to
|
| American Revolutionary War (1775–1783).
| |
| | Taylor's adherents that the committee
|
| During this period, the settlers
| |
| | would decide in favor of Goebel, and on
|
| introduced agriculture to the area.
| |
| | January 19, 1900, a force of more than
|
| Tobacco, corn, and hemp were the major
| |
| | 1,500 armed civilians took possession of
|
| crops of Kentucky, and the hunter
| |
| | the Capitol. For more than two weeks the
|
| gatherer aspects of Native American and
| |
| | United States watched as the Commonwealth
|
| settler life became less pronounced.
| |
| | of Kentucky slid towards civil war.
|
| Kentucky during the American Revolution
| |
| | Martial law was declared and the Kentucky
|
| Kentucky's second largest city, and
| |
| | militia was activated.
|
| former capital Lexington, is named for
| |
| | On January 30, 1900, Goebel, accompanied
|
| Lexington, Massachusetts, site of one of
| |
| | by two bodyguards, was shot by a sniper
|
| the first battles of the Revolution. A
| |
| | as he approached the Capital. Though
|
| fort was built there during the last year
| |
| | mortally wounded, Goebel was sworn in as
|
| of the war for defense against the
| |
| | Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
|
| English and their Native American allies.
| |
| | the next day. Goebel died on February 3,
|
| Kentucky was a battleground during the
| |
| | 1900 from his wounds.
|
| war; the Battle of Blue Licks, one of the
| |
| | For nearly four months after Governor
|
| last major battles of the Revolution, was
| |
| | Goebel's death, Kentucky had two
|
| fought in Kentucky.
| |
| | officials functioning as the
|
| Due to escalating violence, by 1776 there
| |
| | commonwealth's chief executive; Taylor,
|
| were fewer than 200 settlers in Kentucky.
| |
| | who insisted he was the governor, and J.
|
| Militia officers
| |
| | C. W. Beckham, running mate of Governor
|
| After Kentucky County was created on
| |
| | Goebel, who was sworn in when the latter
|
| December 6, 1776, the county militia was
| |
| | died.
|
| organized as follows:[1]
| |
| | Governor Beckham requested federal aid in
|
| David Robinson - county lieutenant
| |
| | determining who Kentucky's chief
|
| John Bowman - colonel
| |
| | executive was. The U.S. Supreme Court
|
| Anthony Bledsoe - lieutenant colonel
| |
| | finally reached a decision on May 26,
|
| George Rogers Clark - major
| |
| | 1900, upholding the Commission's ruling
|
| John Todd - captain
| |
| | that Goebel was in fact Kentucky's
|
| Benjamin Logan - captain
| |
| | governor, and his lieutenant governor
|
| Daniel Boone - captain
| |
| | (Beckham) had followed Kentucky's line of
|
| James Harrod - captain
| |
| | succession and was now Governor of the
|
| In November, 1780, Virginia divided
| |
| | Commonwealth of Kentucky.
|
| Kentucky County into three counties:
| |
| | Immediately following the court's
|
| Fayette, Jefferson, and Lincoln. Militia
| |
| | decision, Taylor fled to the State of
|
| officers of these counties included:
| |
| | Indiana and was later indicted as one of
|
| Fayette County
| |
| | the conspirators in the assassination of
|
| John Todd - county lieutenant and colonel
| |
| | Governor Goebel. Attempts to extradite
|
| (killed at Blue Licks in 1782)
| |
| | him failed, and Taylor remained in
|
| Daniel Boone - lieutenant colonel
| |
| | Indiana until he died.
|
| Jefferson County
| |
| | The early twentieth century
|
| John Floyd - county lieutenant and
| |
| | The coal industry made dramatic progress
|
| colonel (killed 1783)
| |
| | between the turn of the century and the
|
| Lincoln County
| |
| | first World War. Many Kentuckians made
|
| Benjamin Logan - county lieutenant and
| |
| | the change from subsistence farming to
|
| colonel
| |
| | coal mining, particularly in the
|
| Stephen Trigg - lieutenant colonel
| |
| | Appalachian region. Many Kentuckians also
|
| (killed at Blue Licks in 1782)
| |
| | left the state for manufacturing and
|
| In January 1781, Governor Thomas
| |
| | industrial centers in the Midwest.
|
| Jefferson appointed George Rogers Clark
| |
| | German immigrants also populated northern
|
| as brigadier general, a special position
| |
| | Kentucky extensively during this time
|
| created for an expedition against
| |
| | period; this situation led to much
|
| Detroit, which never materialized. As a
| |
| | conflict as the war progressed and
|
| general, Clark was the highest ranking
| |
| | anti-German sentiment increased.
|
| militia officer in Kentucky and
| |
| | World War I
|
| supervised the work of the three Kentucky
| |
| | Like the rest of the country, Kentucky
|
| county colonels.[2]
| |
| | experienced dramatic inflation during the
|
| Separation from Virginia
| |
| | war years. Much infrastructure was
|
| Several factors contributed to the desire
| |
| | created; roads had to be greatly improved
|
| of the residents of Kentucky County to
| |
| | to accommodate the increasing popularity
|
| separate from Virginia. First, traveling
| |
| | of the automobile. The war also led to
|
| to the state capital was long and
| |
| | the clear cutting of thousands of acres
|
| dangerous. Second, offensive use of local
| |
| | of Kentucky timber.
|
| militia against Native Americans required
| |
| | The tobacco and whiskey industries had
|
| authorization from the Governor of
| |
| | boom years during the teens, although
|
| Virginia. Last, Virginia refused to
| |
| | prohibition seriously harmed the economy
|
| recognize the importance of trade along
| |
| | when the Eighteenth Amendment took
|
| the Mississippi River to Kentucky's
| |
| | effect. Prohibition led to widespread
|
| economy. Trade with the Spanish colony of
| |
| | bootlegging that continued on into the
|
| New Orleans, which controlled the mouth
| |
| | middle of the century.
|
| of the Mississippi, was forbidden.[3]
| |
| | The Great Depression
|
| The magnitude of these problems increased
| |
| | Like the rest of the country and much of
|
| with the population of Kentucky County,
| |
| | the world, Kentucky faced great
|
| leading Colonel Benjamin Logan to call a
| |
| | difficulty with the arrival of the Great
|
| constitutional convention in Danville in
| |
| | Depression in the late 1920s. There was
|
| 1784. Over the next six years, nine more
| |
| | widespread unemployment and little
|
| conventions were held. During one,
| |
| | economic growth. On the other hand, New
|
| General James Wilkinson proposed
| |
| | Deal programs greatly improved the
|
| secession from both Virginia and the
| |
| | educational system in the state and led
|
| United States to become a ward of Spain,
| |
| | to the construction and improvement of a
|
| but the idea was defeated. Finally, on
| |
| | great deal of infrastructure. The
|
| June 1, 1792 the United States Congress
| |
| | creation of roads, construction of
|
| accepted the Kentucky Constitution and
| |
| | telephone lines, and rural
|
| admitted it as the 15th state.[3]
| |
| | electrification were significant
|
| The antebellum period
| |
| | developments for the state. The creation
|
| In late 1811 and early 1812, Western
| |
| | of the Kentucky Dam and its hydroelectric
|
| Kentucky was heavily damaged by a series
| |
| | power plant greatly improved the lives of
|
| of earthquakes referred to as the New
| |
| | Western Kentuckians. Both the Cumberland
|
| Madrid earthquake, the largest recorded
| |
| | River and the Mississippi River saw
|
| earthquake in the contiguous United
| |
| | extensive improvements in navigability
|
| States. These earthquakes caused the
| |
| | and flood control.
|
| Mississippi River to change course, thus
| |
| | The 1937 flood
|
| creating the Kentucky Bend.
| |
| | Beginning in January 1937, the Ohio River
|
| Civil War period
| |
| | was in various flood stages for three
|
| Both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis
| |
| | months. The flood led to river fires when
|
| were born in Kentucky.Kentucky was a
| |
| | oil tanks in Cincinnati, Ohio were
|
| border state during the American Civil
| |
| | destroyed in the flood. In Kentucky,
|
| War.[4] Although frequently erroneously
| |
| | one-third of Kenton and Campbell counties
|
| described as never having seceded, the
| |
| | were submerged. Paducah, Owensboro, and
|
| state did pass an Ordinance of Secession
| |
| | other Purchase area cities were
|
| on November 20, 1861 at the Russellville
| |
| | devastated. Damages from the flood
|
| Convention[5], becoming the last state to
| |
| | (nationwide) totaled 20 million dollars
|
| secede from the Union. The "Confederate
| |
| | without adjusting for inflation. It led
|
| capitol" was located in Bowling Green[6]
| |
| | to extensive flood prevention efforts in
|
| and was represented by the central star
| |
| | the Purchase area, including the
|
| on the Confederate battle flag.[7] The
| |
| | distinctive flood wall at Paducah.
|
| delegates to the Russellville Convention
| |
| | World War II
|
| failed to displace the legitimate
| |
| | For Kentucky, World War II, signified
|
| government in Frankfort however[8], and
| |
| | increased importance of industry and
|
| Kentucky officially remained "neutral"
| |
| | decreased importance of agriculture for
|
| throughout the war due to Union
| |
| | the state's economy. The war led to
|
| sympathies of many of the Commonwealth's
| |
| | expansion of Fort Knox as well as the
|
| citizens. Even today, however,
| |
| | creation of an ordnance plant in
|
| Confederate Memorial Day is observed by
| |
| | Louisville. Louisville became the world's
|
| some in Kentucky on Jefferson Davis'
| |
| | largest source of artificial rubber.
|
| birthday, June 3.[9]
| |
| | Shipyards at Jeffersonville and elsewhere
|
| While remaining loyal to the Union,
| |
| | was a tremendous amount of work.
|
| Kentucky was a border state during the
| |
| | Louisville's Ford manufacturing center
|
| American Civil War. The state was
| |
| | produced almost 100,000 Jeeps during the
|
| officially neutral until a new
| |
| | war. The war also lead to a greater
|
| legislature took office on August 5, 1861
| |
| | demand for higher education, as technical
|
| with strong Union sympathies. The
| |
| | skills were more in demand both during
|
| majority of the Commonwealth's citizens
| |
| | the war and afterwards.
|
| also had strong Union sympathies. On
| |
| | Notable Kentuckians during the war
|
| September 4, 1861, Confederate General
| |
| | Husband Kimmel of Henderson County
|
| Leonidas Polk broke Kentucky's neutrality
| |
| | commanded the Pacific Fleet. Sixty-six
|
| by invading Columbus, Kentucky. As a
| |
| | men from Harrodsburg were on the Bataan
|
| result of the Confederate invasion, Union
| |
| | Death March. Edgar Erskine Hume of
|
| General Ulysses S. Grant entered Paducah,
| |
| | Frankfort served as the military governor
|
| Kentucky. On September 7, 1861, the
| |
| | of Rome after its capture. Kentucky
|
| Kentucky State Legislature, angered by
| |
| | native Franklin Sousley was depicted in
|
| the Confederate invasion, ordered the
| |
| | the photograph showing the raising of the
|
| Union flag to be raised over the state
| |
| | flag at Iwo Jima. Harrodsburg resident
|
| capitol in Frankfort, declaring its
| |
| | John Sadler witnessed the atomic bombing
|
| allegiance with the Union. In November of
| |
| | of Nagasaki as a prisoner of war. Seven
|
| 1861, during the Russellville Convention,
| |
| | Kentuckians received the Medal of Honor.
|
| Southern sympathizers attempted to
| |
| | 7,917 Kentuckians died during the war;
|
| establish an alternative state government
| |
| | 306,364 served.
|
| with the goal of secession but failed to
| |
| | Rose Will Monroe, one of the models for
|
| displace the legitimate government in
| |
| | "Rosie the Riveter," was a native of
|
| Frankfort. On August 13, 1862,
| |
| | Pulaski County.
|
| Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith's
| |
| | After the war
|
| Army of East Tennessee invaded Kentucky
| |
| | In the years afterward, the Interstate
|
| and on August 28, 1862, Confederate
| |
| | Highway System helped connect even the
|
| General Braxton Bragg's Army of
| |
| | most remote areas of Kentucky to one
|
| Mississippi entered Kentucky beginning
| |
| | another.
|
| the Kentucky Campaign. Bragg's retreat
| |
| | Agriculture, though still important, was
|
| following the Battle of Perryville left
| |
| | supplanted in many areas by industry. By
|
| the state under the control of the Union
| |
| | 1970, Kentucky had more urban residents
|
| Army for the remainder of the war.
| |
| | than rural residents. Tobacco production
|
| Reconstruction
| |
| | remains an important part of the state
|
| Because Kentucky was a slave state, it
| |
| | economy, but has continually decreased
|
| was subject to military occupation during
| |
| | over the years. Marijuana is now the
|
| the Reconstruction Period. It was subject
| |
| | state's largest cash crop. Though its
|
| to the Freedmen's Bureau and a
| |
| | cultivation is illegal, it is prominent
|
| congressional investigation into the
| |
| | in rural areas and is seen by some as an
|
| propriety of its elected officials.
| |
| | extension of the bootlegging culture that
|
| During the election of 1866, ratification
| |
| | was once pervasive in the region.
|
| of the Thirteenth Amendment was a major
| |
| | Marijuana is widely grown in the hilly
|
| political issue. Kentucky eventually
| |
| | areas of Eastern Kentucky, where it is
|
| rejected the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and
| |
| | difficult for law enforcement to find and
|
| Fifteenth Amendments. Democrats prevailed
| |
| | eradicate; however, it is cultivated
|
| in the election, and one of their first
| |
| | statewide. A 1997 study by NORML
|
| acts was to repeal the Expatriation Act
| |
| | estimated that Kentucky produced over
|
| of 1862, thus restoring the citizenship
| |
| | 800,000 marijuana plants annually, with a
|
| of Confederates.
| |
| | value to growers of over $1.3 billion
|
| After the war, the Ku Klux Klan was quite
| |
| |
|
