In the Pre-territorial Period of Arizona’s history evidence has been collected from the Old Oraibi building shows the Hopi Indians were the first residences of the Arizona as far back as 1150 AD. Most of the Hopi Indians were nomadic and moved where food supply was available. After becoming more familiar with the area the Hopi Indians became better farmers because they were able to produce more of their own food the Hopi Indians did not have to move around as much. Seeing the success of the Hopi Indians other tribes such as Anasazi, Hohokam, and Mogollon migrated to the area also calling it home (McClory, 2001).In the early 1500’s Spain claimed the Arizona area calling it the New Spain colony.
The Andalusian decedents were of the main group of Spaniards to immigrate to the new colony (Boyd-Bowman, P. , & State Univ. of New York, B. s. (1973).
Among those was an explorer named Marcos de Niza. He was the first person who witnessed the Indian tribes already living in this region. The terrain was very dry which made living conditions rough. Military forts were mainly set up instead of villages which were governed mainly by military members.Despite the exploration of this region the first official town was not developed until 1752 (McClory, 2001). Arizona’s land is mostly dry so any land by water is very valuable.
The Native Americans had been living in this region for hundreds of years previously and already knew the best places to plant their crops. The Spanish government started trading firearms, liquor, and provisions with the Apache Indians which brought peace to the area for almost thirty years. The Mexican Period of Arizona’s history was 1821 through 1848.Once Spain turned over government control to Mexico signifying their new independence from Spain the peaceful relationship between the Apache Indians and the local population became a nightmare (Covert, L. (2010). The Apache Indians conducted vicious raids on the local population causing them to move and abandon their homes.
The instability of the region created chaos lead to deteriorating living conditions in all of Arizona. In 1824, when Mexico became a nation, Arizona was a part of the state of Occident.The state drafted its first constitution which was mostly democratic because it stated it would be supported by the people and ran by the people rather than one ruler. In this constitution a three branched government was created much like the one we use today. In 1831, the Occident was divided and parts of Arizona became a part of the Mexican State of Sonora (McClory, 2001). Politics in Arizona was played out much differently than what is stated in the constitution because the populations were still relatively low.
In 1848, there were only 249 people who lived in a nonmilitary town called Tubac and only 760 in Tucson.These towns had only a mayor and a treasurer as their “government officials”. These positions required individuals who could read and write which greatly lowered the opportunity of any individual who could participate. The positions were usually held by the same family creating the exact opposite of a democracy which is what the constitution states. In 1846, the United States Congress declared war on Mexico after ten years of arguments regarding the Texas border.
Mexico was still claiming Texas as part of the Republic of Mexico refusing to recognize the annexation of Texas in 1845.For the purpose of trading goods to eastern countries the United States wanted to purchase California and Oregon when Mexico refused to sell the land to the United States is what triggered the beginning of the war (Dawson III, J. G. (2006). The war ended in 1848 with the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe.
In the treaty the United States was to pay Mexico 15 million dollars in exchange for all land north of the Gila River which is most of what is the southwestern part of the United States today (Martinez, G. A. 2000).Powerful businessmen wanted to build a railroad which extended from New Orleans to San Diego because of the discovery of gold in California in 1850.
James Gadsden was a successful railroad promoter who needed more land for his all-weather railroad. In 1853, he met with Mexico’s dictator Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna to discuss the purchase of more land from the country. With the U. S. Senate’s approval the United States purchased 30,000 more miles of Mexican land which included Tucson for 10 million dollars.
The purchase became known as the Gadsden Purchase (Gadsden Purchase Treaty, (2009). Citizens living in the Gadsden Purchase area were happy to become part of the United States but their joys would soon be turned into dissatisfaction. There was no local government to set up or enforce laws; clashes with the Apache Indians were intensifying, and the local community became refuge staging areas for criminals fleeing Mexico or neighboring states. In 1856, residents petitioned President Buchanan for help but Congress failed to respond. The citizens of Tucson became frustrated.They created their own government in 1860 consisting of a constitution, a governor, and other elected officials.
Their government lasted a short time due to the start of the Civil War when they requested permission for admission to the Southern Confederacy. In 1862, after arriving in Arizona Confederate army troop commander John Baylor saw the need for government and laws for the people and declared himself governor promising the people protection and security. With the approval of the Confederate president Jefferson Davis of Baylor’s Action; Arizona was inducted into the Confederacy on February 14, 1862.Arizona was a part of the Confederacy for four months before Union troops entered Tucson changing their alliance from the Confederacy to the Union (McClory, 2001). After the discovery of valuable metals in Arizona along with the fear of losing Arizona to the Confederacy again Congress allowed Arizona to separate from New Mexico. President Lincoln signed the Organic Act on February 24, 1863 creating Arizona into its own territory.
The Organic Act stated Arizona would only be granted territory status for a short period since its neighboring territories had already joined the Union and became a state.John Goodwin became the first governor on December 29, 1863 and was sworn into office in Navajo Springs. The capital of Arizona changed numerous times over the next 25 years to find its final location in Phoenix. The constant moving of the capital from town to town spread out the population which was great for developing towns, but made creating a solid government much harder.
The vast area between each town made it very difficult for people to have a say in political matters which caused the 49 year delay for Arizona to become a state.The citizens were able to select their local government leaders through elections but when it came to representation of Arizona as a whole the President of the United States to appoint their leaders. This angered the citizens because most of the citizens had Democratic views but the appointed officials from Washington were Republican. They were basically ruled by the federal government with no power of their own because they were not a state they had no say in any presidential election or who the president put in their government office.Many of the governors were carpetbaggers’ individuals who took advantage of a newly forming government for their own personal gain (Carpetbaggers.
(2011). Corruption was not only isolated to the governor’s office. Legislators were known to embezzle funds by distributing funds in inappropriate ways. Most legislators accepted bribes from railroad officials who wanted to avoid paying their share of taxes or who wanted to cut through the red tape of government regulations. The legislators had judges in their pockets by providing them with kickbacks from their embezzlement deals.
The majority of the revenue in Arizona was through mining or railroad development therefore these companies needed lawyers. Most of the federal judges before they became judges worked as a lawyer for one or the other of these companies only adding to the territories corruption. To put an end to the dishonesty and violence Arizona citizens have been subjected to becoming a state was their only hope for living in peaceful conditions (McClory, 2001). In 1872, Arizona began applying to Congress to become a state. Congress declined Arizona’s application for many years along with their first draft of their constitution which was drafted in 1891.Congress’ reasons for declining was it did not have enough population to become a state, their economic prospects were poor due to the arid conditions of the area, their views were not in line with the federal government in regards to direct government which is proposed in the constitution, Congress held racial and religious prejudices against Arizona because of their demographic makeup of foreign born citizens.
By 1910, the population in Arizona had climbed just over 200,000 which put more pressure on Congress to include Arizona as a state.Congress passed the Enabling Act which states the territory has to submit a draft of a constitution to be reviewed by the president before the state can be voted in (Territory, 2011). The other part of the Enabling Act regarded land distribution between federal land, private, state, and Indian reservations. This is to protect land from being squandered ensuring there are places for public schools to be established.
The land may be sold however it must be at full value and placed into a school fund (McClory, 2001).The Progressive movement which started around 1890 helped create the Arizona constitution. The Progressives devoted their attention on ending governmental corruption nationwide citing specific reforms that need to take place to ensure fair government practices. The framers of the Arizona Constitution believed in the work the Progressives were doing and framed their constitution along the lines of their beliefs. At the constitutional convention of 1910 fifty two delegates chose George Hunt to be their convention’s president for his reputation of being honest in spite of the ramped corruption.
In December 1910 the convention voted on the constitution and passed it with a partisan vote of 40 to 12 (Ellison, B. (2001). The constitution which was passed resembled the U. S.
Constitution including with its inclusion of a three branch of government protecting itself from further corruption and a Declaration of Rights outlined in Article 2. These are the only parts of the Constitution which are the same as other states; because parts of the Constitution was influenced by Progressive beliefs such as secret ballots, direct primary, initiative, referendum, and recall added .The Constitution also included certain ballot initiatives such as stating English as the primary language of Arizona, created community law giving women equal ownership of marital property. President Taft was opposed to direct democracy.
His views on recalling judges were publicly known stating recalling judges could destroy the separation of the judiciary system. He vetoed the Constitution for this fact. With statehood in the balance Arizona removed the recalling of judges from the Constitution only to add it after Arizona was granted entrance into the United States (McClory, 2001).Legislative BranchSenate is made up of 30 senators who can serve only four consecutive two year terms. The leader of the Senate is the called the president. The president is responsible of Parliamentary powers, Administrative powers, Appointive powers, Referral powers over bills.
The senate is broken into committees such as Appropriations, Commerce, Agriculture, Education, Family Services, Finance, Government and Environment Stewardship, Health, Judiciary, Rules, and Transportation. Once a bill has been approved it is then sent to the other house for its approval. Enforces the Dracula Clause.House of Representatives consists of 60 members can serve only four consecutive two year terms. The leader of the House is called the speaker.
The speaker shares the same responsibilities as the president of the senate. The house is broken up into committees such as Academic Accountability, Agriculture, Appropriations, Banking & Insurance, Children &Family integrated Delivery System, Counties & Municipalities, Economic Development, Federal Mandates & State’s Rights, Government Operations, Government Reform, Human Services, Natural Resources, Veterans & Military Affairs, Ways and Means.Once the house passes a bill it is then sent to the senate for their vote. Runs formal investigation for impeachment process. Executive BranchThe executive branch consists of a Governor, Secretary of the State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.
They are elected into office can hold two, four year terms. Like the house and senate the executive branch is broken into committees such as Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Economic Security, and Department of Transportation.Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch is broken into different courts such as State Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, the Superior court. Each county must have at least one Superior Court Judge to hear trial cases in felony cases.
Counties that have greater than 250,000 citizens hold elections to choose their judges. The Court of Appeals hears cases regarding compensation, jurisdiction, and power. Members who sit on Arizona Supreme Court hold their position for a six year term once appointed by the Governor.
