Colonial America

Colonial Events in Illinois

44 events — 1492 to early statehood

Period:AllPre-ColumbianColonial PeriodRevolutionary EraEarly Republic
1050
Cahokia Mississippian Urban Center Flourishes
Illinois · Other · Pre-Columbian
1400
Cahokia Civilization Vanishes
Illinois · Other · Pre-Columbian
1673
Jolliet and Marquette Expedition to Mississippi
Illinois · Expedition · Colonial Period
1673
Marquette and Jolliet Explore Illinois Rivers
Illinois · Expedition · Colonial Period
1675
Marquette Founds Mission of Immaculate Conception
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1675
Marquette Founds Jesuit Mission at Grand Village
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1680
Fort Crevecoeur Founded at Peoria
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1682
La Salle Builds Fort St. Louis du Rocher
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1691
Iroquois Force Abandonment of Fort St. Louis
Illinois · Battle · Colonial Period
1696
Cahokia Established by French Missionaries
Illinois · Settlement · Colonial Period
1703
Kaskaskia Established as French Mission
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1717
Illinois Country Transferred from Canada to Louisiana
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1718
Construction of First Fort de Chartres
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1720
Philip Renault Arrives with Slaves to Work Mines
Illinois · Other · Colonial Period
1723
Village of St. Philippe Established
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1730
Battle Against Meskwaki in McLean County
Illinois · Battle · Colonial Period
1732
Fort Vincennes Established on Wabash River
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1763
Treaty of Paris Ends French and Indian War
Illinois · Treaty · Colonial Period
1763
Illinois Country Passed to British
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1763
Pontiac's War Against British
Illinois · Battle · Colonial Period
1764
France Cedes Illinois Country East of Mississippi to Britain
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1764
St. Louis Founded by French Fur Traders
Illinois · Founding · Colonial Period
1765
British Take Control of Fort de Chartres
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1765
British Occupation of East Bank of Mississippi
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Colonial Period
1768
First Court of Common Law in Mississippi Valley
Illinois · Legislation · Colonial Period
1769
Assassination of Chief Pontiac at Cahokia
Illinois · Other · Colonial Period
1769
Murder of Chief Pontiac at Cahokia
Illinois · Other · Colonial Period
1775
George Rogers Clark Takes Illinois Region for Virginia
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Revolutionary Era
1778
George Rogers Clark Takes Kaskaskia for Virginia
Illinois · Battle · Revolutionary Era
1778
George Rogers Clark's Illinois Campaign
Illinois · Battle · Revolutionary Era
1780
St. Louis Attacked by British Forces
Illinois · Battle · Revolutionary Era
1783
Illinois Country Ceded to United States
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Revolutionary Era
1784
Virginia Cedes Northwest Land Claims to Federal Government
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Early Republic
1784
Virginia Cedes Claims to U.S. Government
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Early Republic
1787
Northwest Territory Established
Illinois · Legislation · Early Republic
1803
Louisiana Purchase Acquires Western Illinois Country
Illinois · Transition Of Power · Early Republic
1803
Fort Dearborn Established
Illinois · Founding · Early Republic
1803
Louisiana Purchase Adds Illinois Country West
Illinois · Other · Early Republic
1809
Illinois Territory Created
Illinois · Founding · Early Republic
1809
Illinois Territory Established by Congress
Illinois · Legislation · Early Republic
1818
Illinois Admitted to the Union as a State
Illinois · Admission To Union · Early Republic
1818
Illinois Admitted to the Union
Illinois · Admission To Union · Early Republic
1818
Illinois Admitted as 21st State
Illinois · Admission To Union · Early Republic
1823
Pro-Slavery Convention Blocked by Governor Coles
Illinois · Legislation · Early Republic
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