| 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 |
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