Arkansas
Arkansas became the twenty-fifth state of the Union on June 15, 1836. The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock.
History
While Arkansas was originally a slave state, they did not secede from the Union until May 6, 1861 after Abraham Lincoln called on troops to respond to the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter.
Arkansas would again make headlines after the Supreme Court case Brown v Topeka Board of Education in 1957. Then Governor Oval Faubus sent the Arkansas National Guard to prevent African Americans from entering Little Rock's Central High School. President Eisenhower sent troops to help escort the students into the school.
Economy
Arkansas is home to the major retailers Tyson Foods, Wal-Mart and J.B. Hunt.
Famous Natives
Former President Bill Clinton and his wife Sen. Hillary Clinton are from Arkansas (although Hillary did not grow up in the state). Bill was the 50th governor of the state prior to his run for presidency in 1992.
Elected officials
Federal
- Senator Mark Pryor (D)
- Senator Blanche Lincoln (D)
- Rep. Marion Berry (D) - 1st District
- Rep. Vic Snyder (D) - 2nd District
- Rep. John Boozman (R) - 3rd District
- Rep. Mike Ross (D) - 4th District
Statewide
- Governor Mike Beebe (D)
- Lt. Governor Bill Halter (D)
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