On December 3, Illinois marks its Statehood Day, commemorating its admission as the 21st state of the United States in 1818. The date is an opportunity to reflect on the state's early history and development.

The region was originally home to Native American tribes such as the Illiniwek, whose name inspired that of the state. French explorers Jacques Marquette and Louis Jolliet arrived in 1673, claiming the territory for France and establishing settlements like Cahokia and Kaskaskia at the turn of the 18th century.

Control over Illinois shifted several times in the following centuries. After the French and Indian War, Britain gained control through the Treaty of Paris in 1763. Following American independence, another Treaty of Paris in 1783 transferred Illinois to U.S. governance. Initia

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