This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from Missouri's Struggle for Statehood: 1804-1821 To relate in an accurate manner the story of Missouri's struggle for statehood, of her first constitutional convention and constitution, and of her first state election and legislature, has been my purpose. The birth of a state is an important event. The travail of the State of Missouri was especially significant even in the history of the Nation. Congress alone was forced to adopt two compromises after four sessions of debate before the "Missouri Question" was settled. The existence of slavery in new states and territories was for the first time the great problem in public discussion and Congressional debate. The national side of Missouri's struggle for statehood has received more or less attention from writers: the local side has been passed over with little comment. The latter made its appeal to me over six years ago. Beginning in 1909 and continuing to 1911, I made a study of the history and origin of the Missouri constitution of 1820. During the years following I enlarged this study to its present scope. Few secondary works were used in this volume. Private and public manuscripts, laws, constitutions, journals of legislative bodies and constitutional conventions, memoirs and newspapers, have been the bases of most statements. The chief defect of the work lies in its lack of a Bibliography. This has been largely remedied, however, by the foot-notes which explain where the material consulted may be found. To a number of persons I am indebted for aid. For suggestions and criticisms of a literary character, I beg to acknowledge the kind services of Profs. H. M. Belden, A. H. R. Fairchild and H. McC. Burrowes, of the English Department of the University of Missouri. For assistance of a historical nature, I am under obligations to Prof. F. F. Stephens, of the History Department of the University of Missouri, and to the Hon. Louis Houck, of Cape Girardeau, Missouri. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.