1. Creation of Arkansas Territory In 1816, The Missouri Territory was created. It included 5 counties. One of these counties was made up of present day Arkansas and Oklahoma.

2. In 1819, Missouri Applied for statehood They did not want to include Arkansas or Oklahoma. J. Hardman Walker, a cattle rancher, who owned land in the boot heel of Missouri used his political influence to get it included with Missouri. On July 4, 1819 Arkansas Territory came into existence with Arkansas Post as its capital.

3. General James Miller Appointed by President James Monroe as the first Governor of Arkansas Territory.

4. The governor also supervised Indian affairs territory and commanded the militia. James Miller was a general in the U.S. army and a hero in the War of 1812. Miller was not very happy about his appointment. Millers wife and children remanded in New Hampshire and never joined him in Arkansas Territory. Miller was in no hurry to arrive in Arkansas and did not leave for Arkansas until October, 1819. He arrived in Arkansas Territory on Dec 26, 1819 on a flatboat with a flag that proclaimed “I’ll Try Sir”.

5. Robert Crittenden Appointed by President Monroe as the first Secretary of the Arkansas Territory

6. Secretary of the Territory- Robert Crittenden, a 21 year old Kentuckian was appointed as the first Secretary of Arkansas Territory. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, a lawyer and a member of a leading Kentucky family. Crittenden arrived in Arkansas before Miller and took control.

7. Crittenden ordered an election in Arkansas in November, 1819 to create the first General Assembly. 1. created a 2 house legislature 2. legislative council of 5 men, one from each county. 3. House of Representatives- 9 men chosen from all counties based on population. 4. Also elected James Woodson Bates to be Arkansas’ nonvoting delegate to Congress. This was the most powerful position in the territory.

8. Superior Court Judges were appointed by President Monroe. 1. Charles Jouett 2. Robert Letcher 3. Andrew Scott

9. William Woodruff

10. Arkansas Gazette When 24 year old William Woodruff heard about the creation of the Arkansas Territory, he decided to start a newspaper and printing press there. First established the Arkansas Gazette at Arkansas Post. First edition of the weekly Arkansas Gazette appeared on November 20,1819.

11. When the capitol moved to Little Rock in 1821, so did the Gazette. December 1821, Woodruff moved to Little Rock. December 29, 1821 the first issue of the Gazette was printed in Little Rock. President J.Q. Adams appointed Woodruff as Printer of the Territory.

12. Governors of Arkansas As governor, Miller was absent from Arkansas Territory about half of the time, leaving Robert Crittenden in charge. Miller was unhappy and wanted to be back east with his family. In 1824, Governor Miller finally resigned his position due to bad health.

13. President John Quincy Adams appointed George Izard as the new Governor of Arkansas Territory. Izard really wanted to be appointed as an ambassador and was unhappy with this appointment Izard, like Miller was frequently absent leaving Robert Crittenden in control.

14. The Family The “Family” was formed to oppose Robert Crittenden and his supporters. It consisted of members of the Conway, Johnson, Sevier, Rector and Ashley families who were interrelated through blood and marriage. This feud became apparent in the election of 1827 for Arkansas’ delegate to Congress.

15. Crittenden supported Robert Oden The Family supported Henry W. Conway Crittenden believed he had been insulted during the election and afterwards challenged Conway to a duel. They met across the Mississippi from the mouth of the White River and exchanged shots. Conway was wounded and bristles from his toothbrush were embedded in his body. Three days later he died. A special election was called for Congressional delegate and Ambrose Sevier, another member of the Family, was elected.

16. Henry Conway

17. In 1828, Governor George Izard died. President Andrew Jackson appointed John Pope as the new Governor. Pope had campaigned for Jackson even though Jackson’s opponent John Q. Adams was Pope’s brother-in-law. Jackson dismissed Crittenden and replaced him with William S. Fulton as the new Secretary. Fulton had been one of Jackson’s aids in an early military campaign.

18. Newspapers The Arkansas Gazette supported the “Family” In 1829, the Whigs started a newspaper The Arkansas Advocate. In 1835, the Arkansas Advocate was taken over by Albert Pike, who became the leader of the Whig party in Arkansas.