History of Arizona

The Amerindian first arrive in Arizona between the thousand-year-old XVIe front J. - C. and the thousand-year-old Xe front J. - C., whereas the history of Arizona as described by Europeans starts only when Marcos de Niza, a Franciscain, explores this territory in 1539. The forwarding of Francisco Vásquez de Coronado crosses this territory in 1540 - 1542 at the time of its research of the legendary cities of Quivira and Cíbola. The Father Eusebio Francisco Kino founds there a chain of missions to Pimería Alta (current South of Arizona and Nord of Sonora) In the years 1690 and to the beginning of the year 1700. The Spain builds there strengthened cities ( presidios ) with Tubac in 1752 and Tucson in 1775.

Prehistory

Antiquated Paleo-Indians and people

According to the best archaeological and geological evidence available, one knows that tribes driving out the Mammouth move towards the North America during the Paléolithique at one time varying between -16.000 and -10.000. In Alaska central, these groups of men find their passage blocked by a large glacier before this one does not narrow at the end of the Ice Age and a corridor free from ice opens to them through the North-West of the Canada. The groups can thus now scatter on the remainder of the continent. The first proof of their arrival in the south of the the United States was the discovery of worked points of Lance S dating from the Paleolithic one. Several scientists posed the assumption that small groups of women, men and children travelled in the deserts of the south-west of the Arizona and of the North-West of the Mexico 10.000 or 20.000 years earlier than these hunters of mammoths.

According to geoscientific Paul Martin, these groups, armed with the Clovis points (named thus because they were discovered with Clovis (see Site Clovis), meet there mammoths, Chameau X and horses. As these species never still faced such hunters before, they are exterminated easily: it is the " Pleistocene overkill" , the fast and systematic massacre of almost all the species of the Ice Age in North America until the eighth millenium before JC. This elimination coincides with a climate change which sees the temperature rising and the distribution of precipitations to change. Thus the growing aridity of the area is as much responsible for the disappearance of these species than the arrival of the man.

The archeologists call Antiquated Period the 7.000 years which proceeded between the disappearance of the hunters and more evolved/moved emergence of company, knowing to make Poterie. The majority of the antiquated groups survive while moving along the mountains, in the deserts and the plates, depend on gathering and in less measurement on hunting. Their tools become more varied and their study showed that the seeds, the fruits and the grasses constituted most of their food mode. The antiquated people of the Arizona survive the climate changes rather while adapting to the new cycles than while trying to change food. Because of their dependence to the change of the seasons, they are not established in permanent campings, but move in the search of water and wild food. Their tools echo their economy and testify to their conscience of death, as well as the intaglios (tombs) which they raise for their late on the two sides of the Colorado; who represent for the majority of the animal or human forms.

The arrival of agriculture

During this period, the various people are not able to transform their natural environment in any manner. The archeologists think that they are groups originating in other areas, particularly of Mésoamérique, which make the principal innovations like the Agriculture into the south-west of the actual position. The antiquated populations then start to make push a small and primitive variety of Maïs in places as Bat Cellar as of 3.500 before J-C. Consequently, the corn spreads worms of the more arid and low grounds slowly, like the Désert of Sonora. These people become producers of food around -3.000 and start with sédentariser. They build attics to store their productions, the size of their villages aggrandit, and even the presence of cemeteries is noticed. However wild food remains for them a means important to feed even after the invention from the pottery and the development from the Irrigation. During the millenium, at least three principal cultures appear: the Anasazi, Hohokam, and Mogollon; well-known for their architecture and their pottery.

European colonization

Although the first Européens to have visited the Arizona came in 1528, most important forwardings which were carried out there by the Spaniards were those of Marcos de Niza and Francisco Vásquez de Coronado. The following years, in fact especially the legends circulate in connection with mythical cities like Cíbola and the mining resources of the area which attract the colonists. These explorations allow the exchanges between the various cultures, but bring also diseases to the Amerindian S, of which epidemics of Variole. Very early, the franciscains and Jesuits set up several missions in the area to convert the inhabitants with the Christianisme. In 1660 the Révolte of Pueblos temporarily pushes back Spanish until the New Mexico, but Arizona is reconquered in 1694.

Arizona Spanish

Although the Spaniards did not create yet true cities in the area, the end of the 17th century sees the arrival of many colonists, who are attracted by recent discovered money deposits around the camp of minors of Arizonac. The majority of the colonists leave after the advertisement by Juan Bautista de Anza which it was acted in fact of a buried treasure; however a big number remains in the zone and saw Agriculture. During half of the 18th century, these pioneers try to extend their territory to north, but are prevented by it by the tribes Tohono O' odham and Apache.

Arizona Mexican

In 1821 the Mexico gains its independence compared to the Spain at the conclusion one decade of war. The revolution destroyed the colonial industry of the extraction of money, and the national treasure is in bankruptcy. Along the northern border, the funds which hitherto allowed the missions, with the presidios and with the camps Apache S to survive almost entirely disappear. Consequently, Apaches start again to carry out raids and to kill the colonists. As the missions start to decay, Mexico starts to sell more grounds, which causes the increase in the colonial territory, and the reduction of that of the Amerindians.

American trappers start to enter the area in the search of furs. In 1846 the ideology of the Intended proclamation and the occupation of disputed territories lead the the United States to the américano-Mexican Guerre, which is followed by the transfer of the Arizona. In 1849 the Gold rush of California makes become 50.000 minors in the area, which represents a massive evolution of the population. In 1853 the president James Buchanan sends James Gadsden to Mexico City to negotiate with Santa Anna the purchase of part of territory of the Arizona and New Mexico.

The American Territory of Arizona

At the beginning of the American Civil War, the Territoire of Arizona is regarded by the States Confédérés of America as a valid road giving access to the Pacific Ocean, which would make it possible to capture the California. The Battle of Picacho Pass is the battle delivered more to the west during the war, and only fought in Arizona. During the war, the presidios of Arizona are moved with the New Mexico, which leaves the inhabitants of the area vulnerable vis-a-vis the Amerindian S. the hostilities beginning again between the various tribes and the colonists, in spite of their alliance passed at the time of the américo-Mexican war, the majority of the tribes are moved in reserves.

Mining industry, the breeding and railway industry become vital parts of the economy arizonienne. Several cities appear during the day at the following day following the gold discovery, then are abandoned once the left minors, becoming city-phantoms. The Mexicains are often exploited by the white as minors, which leads to minor ethnic conflicts at the beginning of the Années 1860. The Desert Land Act 1877, which gives to the colonists 2,6 km ² of grounds, causes the arrival of thousands of people in the area. In 1900, Arizona is populated enough to enter the Union. The republicans wish however that it belongs to the New Mexico so that they can thus preserve the control of the Senate, but the white are against, because the majority of the inhabitants of New Mexico are Hispanic. Thus, in 1912, Arizona becomes finally the 48e state of the United States: it grants, this same year, the vote with the women.

Great Depression and world wars

In 1917, at the entry of the United States in the First World War, Arizona benefits from a boom in its economy. After having suffered during the Great Depression, another economic boom after the Second world war and the New Deal make find with the state its stability.

At that time, industries of cotton, agriculture and copper flower in the area. The army becomes in parallel the greatest source of revenue, with the installation with Phoenix and Tucson of military bases and academies. During the war, the inhabitants of other states also start to move in Arizan because they think that its position inside the grounds can protect them from the air raids. In 1948 the industry of high technology appears in the state and the Amerindians of the state gain the right to vote.

Recent events

Since the Second world war, Arizona became an appreciated destination of the tourists, attracted by the Large Canyon, and of the pensioners wanting to benefit from the pleasant climate of the state.

In 1963, the Supreme court of the United States put an end with a conflict which lasts since decades by supporting Arizona compared to the California on the level of the division of water of the Colorado. Five years later, the authorization is given to build the Central Arizona Project, completed in the neighborhoods of 1993.

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