Arizona Statehood & Constitution
Kelli Miller
Grand Canyon University: POS 301
January 22, 2013

Arizona Statehood & Constitution Arizona is recorded to have began in 1539 by the Europeans with the first documented exploration of the area by Marcos de Niza. Arizona was part of Mexico because the population was small. The United States took possession in 1848 after the Mexican-American War. Arizona split off from New Mexico in 1863, and became a state on February 14, 1912. Arizona still continues to grow today as a state in population, with retirees and tourism. I will be describing and analyzing events that have impacted Arizona becoming a state.
Preterritorial Period
The earliest cultures of Arizona can be speculated to have appeared around 25,000 BC. In 500 A.D., the more defined cultures emerged being known as the Hohokam whom was pit dwellers that specialized in irrigation systems. They brought water by way of canals to grow crops; and many of the remains of their canals still can be traced. The Casa Grande tells us a great deal about the achievements of the civilization. Beginning in the 11th Century, the Pueblo developed underground chambers to build their homes and cotton fiber. They lived in elaborate cliff dwellings, unlike the Hohokam. Around this time, Spanish colonist began to populate the territory in search of fortune. The Apache and Navajo whom exited Canada in the 13th century began to settle the land. This time was known for many battles and ill will toward Indians and Spanish against each other.
Spanish Period
The 15th century introduced Spanish to the region by the way of explorer Cabeza de Vaca. Marcos de Niza came in 1539 and began to make a mark in 1540 with the expedition in legendary cities for gold. They stretched their search looking for the cities of gold but discovered the Grand Canyon and other Hopi Indian villages. The 16th and 17th centuries introduced missions headed and founded by Father Kino. The missions taught Indians how to farm, stock their land with cattle, and they explored the land between Arizona and California. The Indians thought the Spaniards were taking over their land and the Spaniards regained the land.
Mexican Period
Lt. W. H. Emery explored and began mapping parts of the territory that interested him, despite the dangers from the Apache Indians. Arizona began to develop ties to the United States. Trappers began to emerge at this time during the 18th century. Population was small but furs and minerals were important and valuable finds. After the Mexican war, the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo allowed the United States to take an area away from Mexico. The new territory was called New Mexico and included most of Arizona.
US Controlled Period
Upon the discovery of gold in California, they decided sea ports were of great importance. The value of travel routes was soon realized and the first Stage Coach began in the mid 1800’s. Once New Mexico took control, the US desired to build a railroad through the southern half. This would bring prehistoric miners and early explorers to the area as it was rich in minerals. The Civil War drew boundary issues near Tucson and Mesilla due to both being part of the confederacy; causing the status of the territories to continuously change.
Territorial Period
The settlers were able to claim land due to the Homestead, Land, and Carey Land Act. The 1870’s showed an increase in prospectors due to the mining of minerals in legendary towns such as Tombstone. During this time, the town was lawless until Wyatt Earp and his gang showed up from the OK Corral shootings. With ranching flourishing and the Government allowing grazing on battle land depletion, the state grew. Continued efforts to separate the territory from New Mexico were still in consideration because the legislature was too far. The demand was opposed by arguing that the area was unimportant. Finally in 1863, the US Government passed the Organic Act and Congress created the Territory of Arizona. Charles Poston was known as the "Father of Arizona" because of his efforts in getting the bill passed. He was an explorer whom later became Arizona’s territorial delegate to Congress. Arizona was still a frontier territory in the 19th Century and its constitution blocked it from becoming a state. But finally in February 1912 President Taft made Arizona the 48th state of the United States. Many events have impacted Arizona in becoming a state, but they finally succeeded after getting everything into place. They spend several years arguing their point to get their Constitution in place and to be accepted by the US. Now they are an aspiring state whom attracts retirees and tourists for the warm weather and attractions.

Part II: | Executive | Judicial | Legislative | Powers | Carrying out the law | Interpret the law | Create and establish laws | Functions | Performing day-to-day functions of the State | Courts resolve legal issues and manage trials | Listen to concerns of citizens |

Amending Arizona Constitution * State’s legislature or citizens can propose amendments and the voters must approve any and all changes. * Amendments must address long-term not immediate issues, must stand the test of time, and must not be redundant or breach the integrity of the Constitution. * Amending should be done prudently, with high respect for laws, people, and our future. * Citizens have the right to propose and approve Constitutional changes through the initiative process: suggest a law and gather signatures to get it on the ballot for voters to consider and act on. * Legislature can suggest legislation to the voters for a decision through the referendum process. Fairness is a word defined as the state, condition, or quality of being fair, or free from bias or injustice; evenhandedness. Fairness is often times linked to equality, meaning if everyone has the same opportunity then it is fair. So the question is, does the Arizona government give too much power to the people? In my opinion, yes it does give too much power to the people. The Arizona Constitution has been amended more than 125 times since going into effect in 1912; the US Constitution has only been amended 27 times. The US Constitution has less than 9,000 words, while the Arizona has more than 28,000 words. Arizona is more detailed than the US which most states are; giving it more outlined individual rights. Amending the Arizona Constitution is also more easily done than the US, since there are less steps to have to go through. Arizona’s Legislature or citizens can propose amendments; the voters must approve all changes. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution is more involved; it requires passage by two-thirds of the House and Senate and ratification by 38 states. I believe the founding fathers would not approve of how many times the Arizona Constitution has been amended. It was their idea to create a document that they believed in and the way they thought Arizona should be ran. With more than 125 amends thus far, you could argue that they did not think out the Constitution like the founding fathers of the US did. With drawing it out more, that leaves room for citizens to argue that it could be wrong and taken out of context. One could argue on something when the founding fathers might not have ever thought of it being seen that way. Regardless of how many times it has been amended, Arizona has remained a growing state that is still prospering. The founding fathers would have been proud of the accomplishments and success seen across the state.

REFERENCES
Arizona History. (2012). Retrieved January 22, 2013, from Bellre: http://bellre.com/arizona_history.htm
History of Arizona. (2013, January). Retrieved January 21, 2013, from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Arizona
Voters, Here are your Props. (2006, October). Retrieved January 22, 2013, from Arizona Daily Star: http://azstarnet.com