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Maine

State History

Native Americans

People have lived in the area that is now Maine for thousands of years. Early civilizations include the Red Paint People and the Susquehanna. By the time Europeans arrived, a number of Native American tribes lived in the area. These tribes spoke the Algonquian language and included the Micmac, the Abenaki, the Penobscot, and the Maliseet peoples.


Acadia National Park in Maine
Acadia National Park
from the US Park Service

Europeans Arrive

The first European to visit the area may have been Viking explorer Leif Erikson. Some historians believe he landed on or near the coast of Maine around 1000 AD. However, there is little evidence left to confirm this.

The first recorded European arrival was Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano in 1524. Although he claimed the land for France, settlements weren't established for many years later.

Colonization

The first European settlement in Maine was established by Frenchmen Pierre du Guast and Samuel de Champlain on St. Croix Island in 1604. They founded a colony called Acadia which included part of Maine and modern day Quebec, Canada.

A few years later, in 1607, the English arrived and founded a colony named Popham Plantation. Like many of the early settlements, Popham Plantation only lasted a year. The cold weather and hostile Indians made it difficult for early settlers to survive.

Despite the hostile environment, people continued to settle the land. In 1652, the land became part of the Massachusetts Bay Colony of England. It would remain part of Massachusetts until 1820. Over the years the French and English fought for control of the region. England finally gained control at the end of the French and Indian War in 1763.

American Revolution

Maine was part of Massachusetts during the American Revolution. The first naval battle of the Revolution was fought off the coast of Maine resulting in the capture of the British ship Margaretta. Parts of Maine were later under British control until the war ended in 1783.


City Hall in Portland, Maine
City Hall in Portland, Maine by Daderot

Becoming a State

The people of Maine were independent minded and wanted to separate from Massachusetts. On March 15, 1820 they got their wish and became the 23rd state of the United States. The original capital of Maine was Portland. It was moved to Augusta in 1832.

Missouri Compromise

One of the reasons that Maine was admitted as a state was because of the Missouri Compromise. This agreement said that there should be an equal number of slave states and free states. When Missouri was admitted as a slave state, Maine was admitted as a free state to keep the balance even.



Old Port in Portland, Maine by Daderot
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Works Cited

History >> US Geography >> US State History


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