1.The Historical Perspective ofAlabama Azam Fariz SheyreenDayang

2. The History of Alabama Alabama became a state of theUnited States of America onDecember 14, 1819. After the IndianWars and removals of the early 19thcentury forced most NativeAmericans out of the state, whitesettlers arrived in large numbers. In antebellum(pre-war) Alabama, wealthy planterscreated large cotton plantations 3. Tens of thousands of slaves were transported to andsold in the state by slave traders who purchasedthem in the Upper South. Elsewhere in Alabama, poorer whitespracticed subsistence farming. By 1860 AfricanAmericans comprised 45 percent of the statespopulation. 4. The Civil War Alabama declared its secession in January 1861 and joined the Confederate States of America. The ensuing American Civil War saw action in Alabama, and the population suffered economic losses and hardships as a result of the war. The Southern capitulation in 1865 ended the Confederacy, led to the emancipation(to obtain political rights) of slaves, and began a period of Reconstruction. 5. An agricultural depression followed, and at the endof Reconstruction in 1877 Alabama emerged still apoor, heavily rural state, with an economy even moretied to cotton despite its declining prices. Reconstructions end heralded the rise to power of"Redeemer" Democrats whites who used bothlegal and extralegal means (including violence andharassment) to re-establish political and socialdominance over the recently emancipatedAfrican Americans. 6. The Disenfranchisement In 1901 most African Americans (who in 1900comprised more than 45 percent of the statespopulation) as well as tens of thousands of poorwhites were disfranchised by the Democrats. *Disenfranchisement : To deprive(to lose) of a privilege, an immunity, or a right of citizenship, especially the right to vote; 7. To escape the inequalitiesof disenfranchisement, segregation andviolence, and underfunded schools, tens ofthousands of African Americans joined the GreatMigration from 1915 to 1930 and moved to betteropportunities in industrial cities, mostly inthe North and Midwest. The New Deal farm programs increased the priceof cotton and World War II finally broughtprosperity, as the state developed a manufacturingand service base. 8. Cotton faded in importance as mechanical pickers each replaced scores of farm workers. With the passage of national civil rights legislation in 1965, African Americans could all exercise their right to vote. 9. With the election of Guy Hunt as governor in1986, the state became a Republican stronghold inpresidential elections and leaned Republican instatewide elections, while the Democratic Party stilldominated local and legislative offices. Democratic dominance has ended in terms oforganization, the parties are about evenly matched.