In 1800, Congress carved Ohio and Indiana out of the Northwest Territory.  President Thomas Jefferson appointed military officer, politician, and future U.S. President William H. Harrison governor of the newly established Indiana Territory. 

To achieve statehood, Harrison knew Indiana would have to prove it had a tax base adequate to support itself.  He bought millions of acres of land from Indian tribes for new settlements.  The prospect of inexpensive land tempted settlers, and the population steadily grew.

Harrison also believed legalizing slavery would draw people in.  His opponents were so angered by the notion, they appealed to Congress for a new territory where slavery would remain outlawed.  To Harrison’s dismay, the Illinois Territory was created from Indiana’s land in 1809.  Having lost its western settlements in the territorial split, Indiana’s population decreased.

In 1811, Harrison’s victory against uprising Indians at the Battle of Tippecanoe opened even more land to settlers.  Population increased again and the territory became eligible for statehood.  But soon after, Harrison resigned to command an army in the War of 1812.  Ironically, it was Harrison’s political enemy, abolitionist congressman Jonathan Jennings, who eventually led Indiana to statehood in 1816.       

Value:  47c

Issued: June 7, 2016

First Day City:  Indianapolis, Indiana

Type of Stamp:  First Class Mail

Printed by:  Ashton Potter

Method:  Offset, Microprint

Quantity Printed:  30,000,000