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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. |
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