Alabama: The 22nd State

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.

Image via Wikipedia

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