150th Anniversary of Alabama’s Statehood.2.8.1969

The 6c 1969 Alabama Statehood stamp was issued on August 2, 1969 at Huntsville, AL to commemorate the150^th Anniversary of Alabama’s Statehood.

First explored by Hernando de Soto of Spain, Alabama’s first permanent settlement was made by the French at Ft. Louis.  Thomas Pickney of the U.S. negotiated the Treaty of San Lorenzo in 1795.  This treaty fixed the U.S. border along the 31st parallel of north latitude, which meant all of Alabama, except the Mobile area, was part of the U.S. 

This area was made part of the Mississippi Territory in 1798.  During the War of 1812, the U.S. seized the Mobile area from Spain.  In 1813, Creek Indians massacred several hundred pioneers at Fort Mims, near today’s Timsaw.  The Creek were led by a William Weatherford, also known as Chief Red Eagle, who was of mixed European and Native American ancestry.  U.S. forces under General Andrew Jackson defeated the Creek in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend, in 1814.  In 1817, the Alabama Territory was organized.  Saint Stephens became the capital city.

In 1819, a constitutional convention was held in Huntsville.  This convention produced the territory’s first constitution.  On December 14, 1819, Alabama entered the Union as the 22nd state.  Huntsville served as the capital city, but a little more than a year later it was moved to Cahaba.  The capital was moved to Tuscaloosa in 1826, due to extensive flood damage in Cahaba. 

Thank you Merja.