Alabama – The 22nd State

Alabama became our 22nd State, on Dec. 14, 1819.  Located in the southeastern part of the United States. In 1861 it broke away from the United State of America, and became the Confederate States of America. This state was a very firm believer of slavery, making black people their servants. Their State flag is very simple, white background with a large Red X across it, very similar to the Confederate flag. It was the intention of the northern states to do away with slavery, and Alabama and some of the other southern state would not have it. Which was the reason for the Civil War. With a Motto such as “We Dare Defend our Rights”, one can see how strong this state defended what they believed to be right; in their eyes slavery was acceptable.

The Civil War, did tremendous amount of damage to this region of the continent, especially since the northern states wanted to outlaw slavery and it was not something this state was interested in, so in 1848 the “Alabama Platform” was put into place stating that the United States government could NOT out law slavery. It was because of this that Alabama, pulled out of the union in 1861, declaring itself independent, or a republic, which was the term, used during that time. So they became the Republic of Alabama. There was a lot of controversy for a few years, but in the begin of 1861 the south decided to create “The Confederate States of America”, operating just like the United States but on their terms. Overall this was a difficult time for all, with the Confederates fighting the Union (USA), looting was happening more and more making the country as a whole untrusting of one another.

This is a photo of Rosa Parks being booked.

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When the war ended, it did not make matters any easier, since there was debt, unsanitary situations and a lot of bitter, angry people. With the situation so bad and poverty rising, they reapplied for statehood. It was granted on June 2, 1868; with the state eventually adopting a new constitute. It was not until the 1950 and 1960, that slavery was severely declining with a bus boycott by Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther Kings push for desegregating, soon the Federal Supreme Court passed a law; that slavery was illegal. If you owned a black person, you were able to keep them, but there was to be no more purchasing of slaves. There were a lot of neighborhood wars, and killings since it would take the Slave owners time to accept the new laws.
Robert E. Lee

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In the southern states they celebrate Robert E. Lee’ birthday on the 3rd Monday of January, along with Martin Luther Kings’ Birthday, which I find, ironic since they were such a pro slavery state. They have several Federal Legal holidays that I here in New York see is not recognized; such as Mardi Gras, which is just before the Catholic Roman Catholics, celebrate “Lent”, usually the end of February to early March. They honor Thomas Jefferson’s birthday on April 14th, with the 4th Monday of April being known as the Confederations Memorial Day.

All the states usually have a state bird, song, nickname and tree. Alabama’s with the state bird being the Yellowhammer, the tree is a south pine tree, of course the song is Alabama, and the its nickname is “Little Dixie”

The name came from the Alibamu Tribe, where the name translates into “I open the thicket, referring to a pathway to the south. With the state predominately covered with forest, and small wild life it would seem proper for the translation being “I open the thicket”.  Alabama is surrounded by Mississippi on its left; to the north is Tennessee, with Georgia on its right. To the South is Florida, with a small piece boarding with the Gulf of Mexico.

The weather in this state changes drastically from the north down to the south, but over all this is a warm state. It usually has long summers, which can be ruined by hurricanes that come into the Gulf of Mexico; but for the most part they see little destruction.  Winters are usually mild, but it is not uncommon for the northern part of the state to see temperature fall in to the mid-forty range. Within the state there is a part that is a section of the Appalachian Ridge, which runs through several states. They have large areas of State Parks, with their largest being the Little River Canyon National Preserves.

Like all states they have their “full” of trash and is running out of place to put their garbage, they suffer their share of pollution and toxic waste, but how are we to move forward if we don’t live, and experiment; in time I am sure we will find a safe and economic way to handle these situation. Unfortunately many Americans have some great ideas that are delayed or never heard because the government or the states are obtaining funding to leave certain things along.
Dr. Martin Luther King

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This state is the home to the International Motor Speedway, where the Winston and Die Hard 500 is held. They have a monument dedicated to those who died in the civil war, which in located Montgomery County. Helen Keller was born in this state, giving other families the resources to teach the blind and deaf along with the ability to teach them to communicate. Other famous individuals who came from Alabama, is Willy Mays, a great baseball player, Joe Louis a former boxer, and Henry Aaron, know to many as Hank Aaron, who was at one time considered the all American Homerun King.

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This state has gone through a lot of changes since 1776, or in their case 1861; but today we are all proud to part of one Nation, Under God.