| A short
history of the Illinois State flag |
The American Eagle
was already being shown on the seal of Illinois even when it
was only a territory. Illinois was admitted to the Union in December
1818. The eagle holds in its beak a flying red scroll bearing
the state motto "State sovereignty, national union",
and stands on a rock with a leaning shield containing the Stars
and Stripes. On the rocks are the dates 1818 and 1868, and behind
the shield is a laurel wreath. During this time a suggestion
that the two phrases of the state motto be reversed, was defeated.
However, the person cutting the seal cleverly arranged the scroll
so that the last two words of the motto are read first. The object
of reversing the phrase was actually achieved. The Daughters
of the American Revolution organized competition for the design
of the state flag in 1915, and some members from Rockford, Illinois
submitted the winning design. In July 1970, the name of the state
was added beneath a fuller colored version of the state seal. |
| A short
history of Illinois (The Prairie State) |
Illinois is really
a Mississippi valley state, which also borders on Lake Michigan
. First explored by the French in 1673, and belonged to French
Louisiana. Part of the Indiana Territory ceded by France to Britain
in 1763, conceded by Britain to the USA in 1783. Became a territory
in 1809, admitted to the union on December 3, 1818. |
| Area
of Illinois |
56,400 sq. miles |
Capital
|
Springfield |
| Major
Products |
Manufactured goods,
food products, coal, livestock, maize, soybeans |
| State
Motto |
State sovereignty-national
union |
