First visited by the Spanish explorer
Hernando de Soto in 1540, the Tennessee area would
later be claimed by both France and England as a
result of the 1670s and 1680s explorations of
Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet, Sieur de la
Salle, and James Needham and Gabriel Arthur. Great
Britain obtained the area after the French and
Indian Wars in 1763.
During 1784–1787, the settlers formed the “state” of
Franklin, which was disbanded when the region was
allowed to send representatives to the North
Carolina legislature. In 1790 Congress organized the
territory south of the Ohio River, and Tennessee
joined the Union in 1796.
Although Tennessee joined the Confederacy during the
Civil War, there was much pro-Union sentiment in the
state, which was the scene of extensive military
action.
The state is now predominantly industrial; the
majority of its population lives in urban areas.
Among the most important products are chemicals,
textiles, apparel, electrical machinery, furniture,
and leather goods. Other lines include food
processing, lumber, primary metals, and metal
products. The state ranks high in the production of
marble, zinc, pyrite, and ball clay.
Tennessee is a leading tobacco-producing state.
Other farming income is derived from livestock and
dairy products, as well as greenhouse and nursery
products and cotton.
With six other states, Tennessee shares the
extensive federal reservoir developments on the
Tennessee and Cumberland River systems. The
Tennessee Valley Authority operates a number of dams
and reservoirs in the state.
Among the major points of interest are the Andrew
Johnson National Historic Site at Greeneville, the
American Museum of Atomic Energy at Oak Ridge, Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, the Hermitage (home
of Andrew Jackson near Nashville), Rock City Gardens
near Chattanooga, and three National Military Parks. |
