15 Facts About Indiana Territory

The Indiana Territory was the first new territory created from lands of the Northwest Territory, which had been organized under the terms of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Indiana Territory's government passed through a non-representative phase from 1800 to 1804; a semi-legislative second phase, which included the election of lower house of the territorial legislature, that extended through the ongoing hostilities with Native Americans and the War of 1812; and a final period, when the territory's population increased and its residents successfully petitioned Congress for statehood in 1816.

In 1803, when the Indiana Territory was formed from the remaining Northwest Territory after Ohio attained statehood, the requirement for proceeding to the semi-legislative phase of territorial government was modified.

In 1809, after the Indiana Territory was divided to create the Illinois Territory, the U S Congress altered the makeup of the territorial legislature.

Harrison's attempts to allow slavery in the Indiana Territory caused a significant opposition from the Quakers who had settled in the eastern part of the territory.

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Indiana Territory, meaning "Land of the Indians", references the fact that most of the area north of the Ohio River was still inhabited by Native Americans.

Indiana Territory named their land claim Indiana, in honor of its previous owners.

Indiana Territory had the authority to divide the territory into districts.

Indiana Territory began with four counties: Saint Clair and Randolph County, which became part of present-day Illinois; Knox in present-day Indiana; Wayne County, which became part of present-day Michigan.

Under the terms of the act establishing the district's temporary government, Governor Harrison and the Indiana Territory's judges enacted laws that extended to the Louisiana district.

Indiana Territory further encouraged resistance by telling the tribes to only pay white traders half of what they owed, and to give up all the white man's ways, including their clothing, whiskey, and guns.

Between 1805 and 1811 the northern portion of Indiana Territory was partitioned to establish Michigan Territory and the western portion of the territory set off to form the Illinois Territory.

Posey, who thought it was too early to petition for statehood for Indiana Territory, argued that a state government would pose a fiscal burden on its residents and there would not be sufficient candidates to fill all the new state offices.

Indiana Territory supported slavery, much to the chagrin of his opponents, including Jennings, Dennis Pennington, and others in the territorial legislature and who sought to use the bid for statehood to permanently end the possibility of slavery in Indiana.

Indiana Territory is celebrated at an annual event in Corydon that is centered around the territorial capitol building.