History Of Kentucky

Evidence shows the Native Americans lived assuppliers of hemp, which was used in making rope
well as hunted in Kentucky some 13,000 yearsand fiber products. The other main crop of
ago. However, once the Europeans arrived, theyKentucky was corn, which is the main ingredient in
brought epidemic diseases with them whichBourbon whisky that was developed in 1789 by
harmed the Native American population quite a bit.Reverend Elijah Craig.
By mid-1700s, just a few Native Americans livedWhen the Civil War started in 1861, Kentucky
in Kentucky and these were primarily thewas caught in the middle. Although Kentucky
Cherokee, the Shawnee and the Mingo.proclaimed itself to be neutral, both the
In the 1750s and 1760s Dr Thomas Walker, JohnConfederates and the Union realized its
Finley, Simon Kenton and Daniel Boone praisedimportance and openly recruited men for their
Kentucky for its natural abundant and game. Thisarmies. In fact, Abraham Lincoln, the Union
attracted many settlers to Kentucky. However, itpresident, and Jefferson Davis, the Confederate
was James Harrod who established the firstpresident, were both born in Kentucky just 100
permanent settlement in 1774. Later, Fortmiles apart.
Boonesborough was constructed in 1775 and thenAfter the Civil War ended, Kentucky's tobacco
a plethora of other settlements was created.production increased drastically because of the
On June 1, 1792, Kentucky was admitted into thedevelopment of burley tobacco. Even today the
Union as the fifteenth state but preferred to bestate is one of the major producers of burley
known as a Commonwealth. The first governortobacco. However, it is transportation equipment
of Kentucky was Isaac Shelby and the statewhich is the state's mainstay when it comes to
capital was Frankfort.revenue generation. Along with this tourism is the
The Commonwealth of Kentucky becamestate's third largest industry given its 49 state
prosperous with agriculture and tobacco was itsparks and hundreds of historical and cultural
main cash crop. It was also one of the mainattractions.