when did springfield become the capital of illinois
Springfield, Illinois Springfield's original name was Calhoun, after Senator John C. Calhoun of South Carolina.[12] The land that Springfield now occupies was originally settled by trappers and traders who came to the Sangamon River in 1818.[13] The settlement's first cabin was built in 1820, by John Kelly. It was located at what is now the northwest corner of Second Street and Jefferson Street. In 1821, Calhoun became the county seat of Sangamon County due to fertile soil and trading opportunities. Settlers from Kentucky, Virginia, and as far as North Carolina came to the city.[13] By 1832, Senator Calhoun had fallen out of the favor with the public and the town renamed itself Springfield after Springfield, Massachusetts. At that time, Springfield, Massachusetts was comparable to modern-day Silicon Valley—known for industrial innovation, concentrated prosperity, and the celebrated Springfield Armory. Most importantly, it was a city that had built itself up from frontier outpost to national power through ingenuity – an example that the newly named Springfield, Illinois, sought to emulate.[14] Kaskaskia was the first capital of the Illinois Territory from its organization in 1809, continuing through statehood in 1818, and through the first year as a state in 1819. Vandalia was the second state capital of Illinois from 1819 to 1839. Springfield became the third and current capital of Illinois in 1839. The designation was largely due to the efforts of Abraham Lincoln and his associates; nicknamed the "Long Nine" for their combined height of 54 feet (16 m).[13][14]
Gun laws in Illinois Illinois was the last state to pass a law to allow the concealed carry of firearms by citizens.[34][35] The state's original handgun carry ban was enacted in 1949, with the ban's most recent revision being enacted in 1962.[36] The pre-existing law forbade concealed carry, and generally prohibited open carry, except in counties that had enacted ordinances allowing open carry. On December 11, 2012, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, in the case of Moore v. Madigan, ruled that Illinois' concealed carry ban was unconstitutional, and gave the state 180 days to change its laws.[37] Subsequently, the court granted a 30-day extension of the deadline.[38] On July 9, 2013, Illinois enacted the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, which established a system for the issuing of concealed carry licenses.[39][40] On September 12, 2013, the Illinois Supreme Court, in the case of People v. Aguilar, also ruled that the state's Aggravated Unlawful Use of a Weapon law, which completely prohibited concealed carry, was unconstitutional.[41] On January 5, 2014, the state police began accepting applications for licenses to carry concealed handguns.[42] On February 28, 2014, the state police announced that they had begun issuing concealed carry licenses.[43]