1762 - France cedes the Louisiana Territory, which included Arkansas, to Spain, but the French continue to man Arkansas Post. 

1775 - 1783 - The American Revolution creates the United States of America. The Revolution was due to the British burden of taxes and total power to legislate any laws governing the American colonies

July 4, 1776 - United States Declaration of Independence

July 10, 1778 - France declares war against Britain and makes an alliance with the American revolutionary forces

September 3, 1783 - The Treaty of Paris is signed by the victorious United States and the defeated Great Britain

Facts about the History of Arkansas History - The Early 1800's

• The southern section was claimed by the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase (1803)

• The Louisiana Purchase - In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France. The U.S. Secretary of State, James Madison paid 15 million dollars for the land

• 1805 - 1806 - (Choctaw) and northern (Chickasaw and Cherokee) Indian cessions open up land to white settlement

• 1812 - 1815 - The War of 1812 between U.S. and Great Britain, ended in a stalemate but confirmed America's Independence

• 1836 - 1837 - The Second Creek War (Seminole War)

• 1832-1839 - Removal of the Seminole, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw and Creek Indians, known as the "Five Civilized Tribes", to Indian Territory

Facts about the History of Arkansas History - The American Civil War

• 1861 - 1865 The American Civil War. In 1859 John Brown raided Harpers Ferry and set in motion events that led directly to the outbreak of the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln, a known opponent of slavery, was elected president and in 1861 the South Secedes. The initial Secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.These eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. ( May 6 - Arkansas joins the Confederacy )

• The surrender of Robert E. Lee on April 9 1865 signalled the end of the Confederacy.

• 1865 December 6 - The Abolishment of Slavery. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, thus officially abolishing slavery

• 1898-1901 The Spanish American War. On December 10, 1898 the Treaty of Paris the US annexes Puerto Rico, Guam, Philippines.

Origin of the name

• Named after the French interpretation of a Quapaw Indian word "acansa," meaning "downstream place."