HISTORY. The name Arkansas (pronounced Ar'kansaw) was that of an Indian tribe found by the first explorers within the limits of the present State. About 1685, Frenchmen settled at Arkansas Post. Arkansas formed a part of Louisiana Territory till 1812, and of Missouri Territory till 1819, when it was organized as Arkansas Territory, including Indian Territory. On June 15, 1836, it became a State. Though settled chiefly from the South, Arkansas was fairly divided between Unionists and Secession ists in the early part of 1861: but President Lincoln's call for troops led to the passing of an ordinance of secession on May 6, 1861. The Confederates were defeated at Pea Ridge, March 6-7. 1862, and at Prairie Grove, December 7. Helena was occupied by Union forces, and Ar kansas Post was captured on January 11. 1863. With the fall of Little Rock, September 10, 1863, the Confederate power in the State collapsed. In October and November Union delegates from twenty counties met at Fort Smith to take steps to reorganize the State Government, and in .Tanuary, 1864. a convention met at Little Rock and framed a constitution, which was accepted by the people, hut rejected by Congress. Under the Reemistrnetion Act of 1867, a constitutional con vention met January 7. 1368. at Little Rock, and framed a constitution, which was ratified March 13. by a small majority. On June 22 the State
was readmitted to the Union. In April, 1874, an armed collision occurred between the adherents of two rival claimants for the governorship. Fed eral aid was invoked, and President Grant form ally recognized Baxter, Republican, as the lawful governor. In 1874 a new constitution was adopted. It marked a radical change in the existing law and was in the main a return to ante-bellum conditions. Of recent years the prosperity of the State has increased with the development of its rich mineral resources. Since 1876 the Democrats have been victorious in State and national elections; the congressional delega tion as a rule is solidly Democratic. The elec toral vote has been cast as follows: in IS36 and 1540, for Van Buren and Johnson, 3; 1S44, Polk and Dallas, 3; IS4S, Cass and Butler, 3; 1S52, Pierce and King, 4; 1356, Buchanan and Brecken ridge, 4;.1860, Breckenridge and Lane, 4; 1564, no vote; 1868, Grant and Colfax, 5; 1872, 6 votes not counted; 1376, Tilden and Hendricks, 6; 1850, Hancock and English, 6; ISS4, Cleve land and Hendricks, 7; 1885, Cleveland and Thurman, 7; 1592, Cleveland and Stevenson, S; 1896, Bryan and Sewall, 8; 1900, Bryan and Stevenson, S.
The following is a list of the governors of Ar kansas from the date of its organization as a Territory: