Iowa was transformed into a fully functioning state by the pioneers because they saw something wonderful in the land and all the opportunities it could offer. On June 25, 1673, Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to set foot on Iowa soil. They marked the first white settlement in the Iowa Territory. The land had previously been home to approximately 17 different Indian tribes before being settled by Europeans. European settlers began driving Indian tribes from their lands. In 1803, when President Thomas Jefferson purchased Louisiana from France, he added 827,987 square miles to the United States. The territory that would soon become Iowa was part of the Indiana Territory, governed by William Henry Harrison. The Treaty of 1804 led to the Blackhawk War because Harrison convinced the Native Americans to sign the treaty which meant they would cede up to 51 million acres of land. The Native Americans were very angered by this because the treaty was signed by those who did not have the authority to do so. This in turn began the Blackhawk War. The Native Americans became distrustful and suspicious of the government, thus forcing them to harass and attack. Native Americans then began to be pushed off their lands. In 1856, the Mesquaki Tribe was authorized by the Iowa legislature to purchase over 3,000 acres of land. Today, the Mesquaki Tribe still remains in its settlement in Tama County, Iowa. By 1851 all Iowa land was in the hands of the federal government. Iowa underwent many political changes before becoming independent. From 1821 to 1834 the lands were considered lawless, because they were not under any governmental jurisdiction. During this time, the land was…half-papered…because people could travel to nearby towns for treatment. This allowed communities to grow as the need and desire for services began to grow. Significant growth has occurred for cities along the railroad, but there have been major positive changes for the state as a whole. Transportation development played an important role in Iowa's economic expansion. Iowa became a fully functioning state thanks to early settlers who saw its true beauty. They were able to transform it from an empty prairie to a fully functioning state. The most important change that took place was probably the development of the railroad system because it brought the greatest economic change to the state. Works Cited Schweder, Dorothy. IOWA The middle earth. Iowa: University of Iowa Press, 1996.Print.Schwieder, Dorothy. Official Iowa Register “History of Iowa.” Network. February 15 2014