Arkansas was explored by Hernando de Soto of spain in the year 1541 and he was the first Europian to Explore Arkansas. In 1686 Arkanasa became the first and foremost permanent settlement hub for the french. In 1763 Mississippi River was under the control of Spain which included Louisiana territory which later on went back under the control of French in 1800. After three years United state purchased Louisiana from French ,which eventually included Arkansas.

Arkansas was formally declared and recognized as a state on june, 15th 1836 with Little Rock being named as the capital city. Arkansas saw around 14,000 settlers move in, by 1819. Most of the people in Arkansa found employment in Mining of lead, iorn and coal which was very much the business of this state. Along the mississippi River they built large cotton plantations. At the same time Arkansas was also recognized for its organized structure. To keep peace among the Indian tribes they established Fort Smith in that region. In the years between 1861 to 1865 Arkansas was bloody and disterective due to the eruption of a civil war. In the last years of 1850s, the economy of the arkansa saw boom again. The people who lived in the highland of the north and west, comprised mostly of formers. They adopted a slave-based, plantation-style system of agriculture. Arkansas is one of the largest farming region today and the reason for this being its geograpical orientation. The Mississippi Alluvial plain is formed by the Rivers Arkansas, Mississippi and Ohio.

The farmers planted cotton through out the state because of easy access to the river and easily accessable transportation system. To bear abundant cotton fruit it needs hot summer days and warm summer nights, so Arkansas was the suitable place for the cotton crop. Arkansas produced more the twenty-million pounds of cotton ,the majority in it the Delta. Cotton production in huge amount needs the more manpower, at the same time the growth of the slavery in the Arkansas was reached almost 110,000 slaves. By 1860 one of every five citizens of Arkansas was the slave owner.

Only twelve percent of the slave owners owned twenty or more slaves and the rest of them owned lesser number of slaves. A small group of slave owners resided in the southern and eastern lowlands and hence were not entitled to bear the benefits of the state’s monetary and political power. Almost all the regions of Arkansas, apart from those received the benefits of state’s economy. In this region, through out 1850, the social, political and economical condition was strong. During this period, ‘Democratic Party’ which was also known as “The Family” dominated the political field. But the rest of the Arkansas was seemingly against this political party.

In February 1860, the Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln formed the Confederate states of America (CSA) in order to halt the expansion of slavery. Between December 20, 1860, and February 1, 1861, seven states approved the rule of session, declaring that they had served there bounds with the United States. Because of this event Arkansas drew in to the national crisis resulting in the Battle of Pea Ridge, Battle of Prairie Grove, and The Battle of Helena Civilian to name a few of the battles that took place in Arkansas.

Battle Pea Ridge took place in March of 1862 and is known as the largest battle fought. Around 26,000 soldiers were involved. This battle was mainly fought for the acquisition of Missouri which because of its location along the Mississippi River was an ideal gate way to Southwest. The war was basically fought between Union troops and Confederate troops. Finally decisive Union victory ensured that Missouri would remain in federal control.

Battle Prairie Grove was fought in December, 1862 with around 11,000 Confederates involved in it. It was a failed attempt to prevent Federal occupation of Fort Smith.

And Battle Helena took place in January, 1863 at Arkansas Post involving about 30,000 Union troops and 5,000 Confederates. But at the end of the battle Union force occupied Little Rock on September 10, 1863 and Confederates were forced to move to its capital city, Washington.

In Between 1867 to 1899 Arkansas had witnessed some more major events. During this duration Congress passed the reconstruction act, which created a void for the government of Arkansas and nine other southern states. The rail road between Memphis and Little Rock saw its successful completion. Fayetteville became an abode for the University of Arkansas. And in 1899 Bauxite Mining started and later Arkansas was well-known for its well-established mining sector.