Arizona History

under construction

Arizona History a survey from early Indians to statehood

Pima word which means “ those who leave departed “

The Hohokam were the first settlers of the South West and Arizona.  Their villages were permanent settlement with dams and irrigation system, which allowed them to farm successfully in the desert.

          The Anasazi, Navajo meaning ancient ones, lived in the Northern area of Arizona. The mountains around Flagstaff, San Francisco Peaks were volcanoes. An eruption created the sunset Crater. The Indian of Northern Arizona became master builders of cliff dwellings.

          Can you name a few famous dwellings in Arizona Canyon de Chelly, Montezuma’s Castle,

Spanish /Mexican in Arizonans

          What caused the Spanish to explore Arizona?

                    The search for seven cities of Cibola. Fray Marcos de Niza and a slave Estaban were the first foreign to enter Arizona.  Coronado led a group of soldiers through out Arizona .His expedition found and named the Colorado River.

          An explorer who made his search in Arizona was Padre Kino, a Jesuit missionary. He built a settlement at San Cosme de Tucson. This missionary mapped much of the Arizona territory and the area of Baja California.

          In the early 1800’s the citizens of South Americans, Central Americans and Mexico fought for their independence. The Mexican war of independence started with the ringing of the bell by Miguel Hidalgo. Focusing on the Spaniards allowed the Apaches to attach the Mexican towns in New Mexico Arizona and Northern Sonora.

          With the Nation voicing its “Manifest Destiny”. Mountain men or fur trappers entered the area; among them were Kit Caesar and Paulino Weaver.  With more and more Americans heading west and south. We have already discussed the settlement of the area.

          Kit Carson led Kearny acors Arizona while Paulino Weaver guided Colonel Cooks though out the area. As we have already learned the end of the Mexican American War came with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Arizona, New Mexico and California were given to America.

          The southern parts of Az and New Mexico remain in Control of Mexico.  The Gadsden Purchase gave America another railway and a Port on the California Sea. This helped with the monument of people and supplies.

          With Arizona a new American territory development occurred. Apaches and Navajos created problems for those headed for California’s Gold Rush.  Fort Defiance was the first American military Post in Arizona. The lack of water and other supplies in the desert caused the U.S. to explore new methods of travel Secretary of War, Jefferson Davis. Davis and others introduced Camels in the Southwest. Hi Jolly and Greek George were the Arabian trainers to the camels.

          Another mode of transportation in Ariz was the steamboat.

          Settlement: Yuma’s original mane was Arizona City. $ 25 dollar store. Mining settlements grew in Arizona. Many mines hired Indians, Mexican and Anglos to work in them. Supplies were paid for with little bars of silver. These became too cumbersome so new money was printed.

          Stage Coaches crisscrossed the Arizona territory sometimes earning the of Jack Ass Mail because passengers would have to ride the mules in some areas.

          The military would escort the stagecoaches through the Apache territory. The discovery of gold along the Gila River and Colorado caused many to settle in the area.

          The apaches under the leadership of Cochise learned to get along with the Americans. The Chrrichau, Apaches learned to get along however; they did continue to raid Mexican settlements.

          Brash young Military leader causes Apaches to hate Americans. Insults Cochise then refused to negotiate with him. Indians kill them captures as does the Americans. The Apaches began attaching all the settlements in the area and when the military withdrew due to the Civil War, the Indians mistakenly thought they had war.

          During the Civil War, the only war fought in Arizona, Picacho Peak between Union and Confederate forces. However, the Apaches attached both forces.

          The Father of Arizona. Charles Poston because he sold Congress on making Arizona a territory .The first Governor of Arizona was John N. Goodwin and Fort Whipple was the territorial Capitol. Fort Whipple became the town of Prescott Arizona in 1863. Tucson was the territorial capitol from 1867 to 1877. Back to Prescott January 6, 1889 Phoenix became permanent capitol.

          Major John Wesley Powell was to explore the River and canyons in Northern Arizona. It took them 3 months to travel hundreds of miles.

           Many mines were established in Arizona. The most famous was the Flying Dutchman Mine of the Superstition Mountains many have died trying to find it.  Many cities grew up around mines the towns of Wickenburg, Prescott, Douglas, Jerome, Bisbee, and Globe/ Superior is a few. Copper is the main mineral ore mined in Arizona.

          Farmers in the State the first occupants were accomplished farmers. Using irrigation in the desert. The first man to camp in what is now Phoenix was John Y. Smith. Smith was cutting hay for the Calvary horses and a man named Swilling started studying the lay of the land and the ancient canal system of the earlier Indians. He thought if he dug them put, water could be brought to the desert

          Swilling Irrigation Canal Company dug out the canals and developed series of canals Irrigation ditches to the farmland to produce large amounts of crops.

          The first woman of Phoenix was Adeline Gray their farm was very productive even with the infestation of worms. Farmers allowed Indian woman to pitch the worms, which were eaten raw or cooked. 

          Charles Trumbull Hayden built Ferry across river where Railroad and bridge currently area in Tempe.

          Mormons settled in Mesa. Florence Tempe Mesa farming communities.

           Stage Coaches current city to city the experience was exciting.

Arizona almost didn't become a state due to its progressive state constitution. President Taft refused to allow Arizona become a state until the representatives removed the Initiative, referendum, and recall (portions of the state constitution) were progressive views. The representatives removed the three ideals, and then later back in Arizona, the voters added the three ideals back to their state constitution.