= Illinois Country = '''Illinois Country''' or '''Upper Louisiana''' was a [[UnitedStates/ColonialStates|colonial state]] established by [[France/LouisXIV|France]] to administer lands conquered from [[UnitedStates/NativeAmericanNations|Native American nations]]. <> ---- == Geography == Illinois Country is an imprecise geographic area generally referring to the upper Mississippi basin and the Illinois and Wabash river systems. Most new settlement would be found in the modern state of Illinois. ---- == History == The upper Mississippi and Illinois River systems were first explored by French explorers. The term '''Illinois Country''' comes from the native [[UnitedStates/Illinois|Illinois]]. Following the [[WorldHistory/FrenchAndIndianWar|French and Indian War]], the territory was divided along the Mississippi. The east was ceded to the [[UnitedKingdom/GeorgeIII|British]] province of [[Canada/Quebec#Province|Quebec]]. The west was ceded to the [[Spain/CharlesIII|Spanish]] colony of [[UnitedStates/Louisiana#Spanish_Louisiana|Louisiana]]. ---- == Composition == At establishment, the colony was governed from [[Canada/Quebec#Canada|Quebec]]. '''New France''' was ruled as part of an absolutist monarchy, with [[France/LouisXIV|Louis XIV]] dictating the civil, criminal, and trade codes. [[France/LouisXV|Louis XV]] reorganized New France such that Illinois Country was incorporated into [[UnitedStates/Louisiana#New_France|Louisiana]]. ---- CategoryRicottone CategoryState