March 1st This Day in Missouri

On March 1, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: St. Louis, a key hub for western exploration, saw ongoing trade with Native American tribes like the Osage, as the Missouri Territory prepared for further U.S. expansion, though no specific event is noted for this date.
• 1856: Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” planned raids into Kansas during the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, aiming to sway the slavery debate, with early spring tensions rising along the border.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, stationed in St. Louis, tightened federal control over Missouri, while Confederate sympathizers in rural areas organized early spring resistance, reflecting the state’s Civil War divide.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s forces, including Missouri units, regrouped in Arkansas after their failed campaign, focusing on spring strategies, with little direct Missouri activity.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri lines, linking Cape Girardeau to national markets, drove economic growth, with early March marking increased freight traffic.
• 1929: The Great Depression deepened Missouri’s economic woes, with Kansas City and St. Louis businesses struggling, while early spring relief programs aimed to support unemployed workers.
• 1941: Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City ramped up World War II efforts post-Pearl Harbor, with factories shifting to military production and early March enlistment drives gaining traction.