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'''Montana''' is located in the Northwestern region of the [[United States]] and on November 8th, 1889 became the forty-first state to enter into the union. The capital of Montana is [[Helena]] and its largest city is Billings. The current governor of Montana is Brian Schweitzer, a [[Democrat]].

'''Montana''' is located in the Northwestern region of the [[United States]] and on November 8th, 1889 became the forty-first state to enter into the union. The capital of Montana is [[Helena]] and its largest city is Billings. The current governor of Montana is Brian Schweitzer, a [[Democrat]].

==Geography==

==Geography==

The eastern 60% of the state is flat prairie and is slowly losing popualtion, It is filled with cattle ranches, wheat farms, and oil and gas wells. The leading city is [[Billings]], a medical and commercial center.  The climate is especially harsh in the wintertime.

The eastern 60% of the state is flat prairie and is slowly losing population, It is filled with cattle ranches, wheat farms, and oil and gas wells. The leading city is [[Billings]], a medical and commercial center.  The climate is especially harsh in the wintertime.

The western 40% is mountainous and is growing rapidly in population.  Its economy is based on tourism and retirement centers, with [[Yellowstone National Park]] and [[Glacier National Park]] as prime attractions.  The old [[copper]] mining industry that made [[Butte]] notorious has disappeared, and the logging industry is fading in importance. The very long border with Canada is becoming economically important, as oil from [[Alberta]] is brought by pipeline to refineries in Billings and to points as far south as Houston.

The western 40% is mountainous and is growing rapidly in population.  Its economy is based on tourism and retirement centers, with [[Yellowstone National Park]] and [[Glacier National Park]] as prime attractions.  The old [[copper]] mining industry that made [[Butte]] notorious has disappeared, and the logging industry is fading in importance. The very long border with Canada is becoming economically important, as oil from [[Alberta]] is brought by pipeline to refineries in Billings and to points as far south as Houston.

==History==

==History==

===Law and order===

===Law and order===

In early 1864 in southwestern Montana a group of law-abiding citizens, responding to the increasing lawlessness plaguing the gold-mining towns in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, formed a vigilate society and hanged 21 accused criminals.<ref> Frederick Allen, ''A Decent Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes'' (2004)</ref>

In early 1864 in southwestern Montana a group of law-abiding citizens, responding to the increasing lawlessness plaguing the gold-mining towns in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, formed a vigilante society and hanged 21 accused criminals.<ref> Frederick Allen, ''A Decent Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes'' (2004)</ref>

Gangs of cattle thieves and individual rustlers threatened law and order in the late 19th century. Ranchers starting in the 1870s organized Stockmen's associations to fight back. A minority of stockmen organized into vigilante groups to protect their stock, but most stockmen worked with the legislature to create a stock commission that could oversee their interests. After 11 years of lobbying stockmen finally succeeded in getting a protective law. By working within the legislative process, stockmen transformed themselves and their frontier from a place characterized by isolation and violence to one of organization and law.<ref>T. A. Clay, "A Call to Order: Law, Violence, and the Development of Montana's Early Stockmen's Organizations." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2008 58(3): 48-63, 95-96</ref>

Gangs of cattle thieves and individual rustlers threatened law and order in the late 19th century. Ranchers starting in the 1870s organized Stockmen's associations to fight back. A minority of stockmen organized into vigilante groups to protect their stock, but most stockmen worked with the legislature to create a stock commission that could oversee their interests. After 11 years of lobbying stockmen finally succeeded in getting a protective law. By working within the legislative process, stockmen transformed themselves and their frontier from a place characterized by isolation and violence to one of organization and law.<ref>T. A. Clay, "A Call to Order: Law, Violence, and the Development of Montana's Early Stockmen's Organizations." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2008 58(3): 48-63, 95-96</ref>

About 5000 Montanans died in the worldwide flu pandemic of 1918-19, which killed more than 20 million people worldwide, and 675,000 Americans.<ref>Volney Steele, "The Flu Epidemic of 1918 on the Montana Frontier." ''Journal of the West'' 2003 42(4): 81-90  </ref>

About 5000 Montanans died in the worldwide flu pandemic of 1918-19, which killed more than 20 million people worldwide, and 675,000 Americans.<ref>Volney Steele, "The Flu Epidemic of 1918 on the Montana Frontier." ''Journal of the West'' 2003 42(4): 81-90  </ref>

   

   

===National Guard===

===National Guard===

The 1st Montana Volunteer Regiment, as the Montana National Guard was known during the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. Arriving in the Philippines shortly after the Spanish surrendered in August 1898, the regiment participated in guarding Spanish prisoners of war in Cavite, securing Manila from Filipinos angry with the transfer of their country from Spain to the United States, assaulting Caloocan, and taking the provisional capital of Malolos. The performance of this and other National Guard troops in America's first overseas operation convinced the military of its value to national defense.<ref> Richard K. Hines, "'First to Respond to Their Country's Call': the First Montana Infantry and the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection, 1898-1899." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2002 52(3): 44-57 </ref>

The Montana National Guard was established in 1887. The 1st Montana Volunteer Regiment, as the Montana National Guard was known during the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. Arriving in the Philippines shortly after the Spanish surrendered in August 1898, the regiment participated in guarding Spanish prisoners of war in Cavite, securing Manila from Filipinos angry with the transfer of their country from Spain to the United States, assaulting Caloocan, and taking the provisional capital of Malolos. The performance of this and other National Guard troops in America's first overseas operation convinced the military of its value to national defense.<ref> Richard K. Hines, "'First to Respond to Their Country's Call': the First Montana Infantry and the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection, 1898-1899." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2002 52(3): 44-57 </ref>

The Montana National Guard, officially designated the 163d Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division, fought in New Guinea from December 1942 to July 1944. They also participated in the Philippines campaign. Many of the guardsmen joined the Guard in the 1930s to earn money during the Great Depression, and most never imagined being involved in the horrors of jungle combat. Disease took nearly as great a toll on the men as the Japanese did.<ref> Carle F. O'Neil, "Pacific Memories: Montana National Guardsmen Recall the Fighting on New Guinea in World War II." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2002 52(2): 48-57 </ref>

The Montana National Guard, officially designated the 163d Regiment of the 41st Infantry Division, fought in New Guinea from December 1942 to July 1944. They also participated in the Philippines campaign. Many of the guardsmen joined the Guard in the 1930s to earn money during the Great Depression, and most never imagined being involved in the horrors of jungle combat. Disease took nearly as great a toll on the men as the Japanese did.<ref> Carle F. O'Neil, "Pacific Memories: Montana National Guardsmen Recall the Fighting on New Guinea in World War II." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 2002 52(2): 48-57 </ref>

The founding of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana showed the state was following national trends in the professionalization of journalism. However, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company began to dominate economic and political life in the state and, as a political strategy, purchased most of the state's daily newspapers. From the 1920s until 1959, journalists working at the newspapers could write nothing that undercut the company's business enterprises. Journalists were thus not allowed to develop and exercise their professional skills through their news judgment regarding certain business topics - lawyers and accountants made news judgments. This changed in 1959 with the purchase of the Anaconda newspapers by Lee Enterprises, a Midwestern newspaper group. Following its own traditions, Lee allowed the journalists to exercise their own editorial judgments. Don Anderson, a Montana native and Lee executive, led the way in this transformation of the state's journalists to professional status. Newspapers soon found themselves engaged in clashes with Anaconda over important issues and even taking more active roles in civic reform efforts. Lee has managed the newspapers over the years since with praise for their editorial independence but criticism of their financial frugality.  

The founding of the School of Journalism at the University of Montana showed the state was following national trends in the professionalization of journalism. However, the Anaconda Copper Mining Company began to dominate economic and political life in the state and, as a political strategy, purchased most of the state's daily newspapers. From the 1920s until 1959, journalists working at the newspapers could write nothing that undercut the company's business enterprises. Journalists were thus not allowed to develop and exercise their professional skills through their news judgment regarding certain business topics - lawyers and accountants made news judgments. This changed in 1959 with the purchase of the Anaconda newspapers by Lee Enterprises, a Midwestern newspaper group. Following its own traditions, Lee allowed the journalists to exercise their own editorial judgments. Don Anderson, a Montana native and Lee executive, led the way in this transformation of the state's journalists to professional status. Newspapers soon found themselves engaged in clashes with Anaconda over important issues and even taking more active roles in civic reform efforts. Lee has managed the newspapers over the years since with praise for their editorial independence but criticism of their financial frugality.  

In 2005 Lee overextended itself by borrowing $1.5 billion to buy other papers, especially the biggest St. Louis newspaper.  With the [[Recession of 2008]] came drastic cutbacks in advertiising revenue, and Lee is struggling to pay off its loans and is cutting staff.<ref> John T. McNay, "Breaking the Copper Collar: Press Freedom, Professionalization and the History of Montana Journalism." ''American Journalism'' 2008 25(1): 99-123</ref>

In 2005 Lee overextended itself by borrowing $1.5 billion to buy other papers, especially the biggest St. Louis newspaper.  With the [[Recession of 2008]] came drastic cutbacks in advertising revenue, and Lee is struggling to pay off its loans and is cutting staff.<ref> John T. McNay, "Breaking the Copper Collar: Press Freedom, Professionalization and the History of Montana Journalism." ''American Journalism'' 2008 25(1): 99-123</ref>

===Notable people from Montana===

===Notable people from Montana===

*[[Burton K. Wheeler]], Democratic Senator

*[[Burton K. Wheeler]], Democratic Senator