Indiana Statehood

NARRATOR: This Indiana Bicentennial Minute is made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.

A series of still and moving images are shown on screen. They include painting of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C from 1816. A portrait of Johnathan Jennings, a man in period dress writing with a quill pen, a group of men talking, and historical documents form 1816.

JANE PAULEY: The first week of 1816 found Jonathan Jennings, the Indiana Territory’s sole delegate in Washington very busy pushing an act through Congress to enable Indiana, now with its required 60,000 free white inhabitants, to become a state.

Another series of still and moving images are shown on screen. They include a portrait of James Madison, a map of the original 13 counties in Indiana, a group of men having animated discussions, a handwritten document about the banning of slavery, and a leather book cover for the First State Constitution of Indiana..

JANE PAULEY: President James Madison signed the act setting the motion the election of representatives from Indiana’s thirteen original counties to a constitutional convention at Corydon. Through June 43 delegates argued and compromised on a number of issues, including slavery, which was banned. By the end of the year 1816 Indiana would become a state and Johnathan Jennings elected Indiana’s first governor.

Text on the screen reads visit indianahistory.org for more information, with a portrait of Johnathan Jennings in the background.

JANE PAULEY: I’m Jane Pauley with this Indiana Bicentennial Minute.

NARRATOR:made possible by the Indiana Historical Society and the law firm of Krieg Devault.