Welcome to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas

This Day in Arkansas History

November 4, 1840

Archibald Yell was inaugurated Arkansas’s second governor. A charismatic Jacksonian Democrat, Yell, as governor, clashed with the state legislature on more than one occasion, primarily over his attempt to investigate the two state banks for their freewheeling ways, and he ended up resigning in 1844 before his term was up. Yell won a seat in Congress in 1844 but returned to Arkansas at the onset of the Mexican War and ended up dying at the hands of Mexican lancers at the Battle of Buena Vista.

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About the Encyclopedia

The CALS Encyclopedia of Arkansas is a free, authoritative source of information about the rich history, geography, and culture of Arkansas. It is updated regularly to ensure the people of Arkansas have an accurate and accessible resource to explore our heritage. We invite you to browse our text entries and media galleries to learn more about the people, places, events, legends, and lore of the 25th state. We are continually adding new entries, photographs, maps, videos, quizzes, lesson plans, and more, so check back frequently to see what’s new.

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New to Arkansas?

Our overview page covers everything you would want to know about our beautiful state, including state symbols, demographics, and more!

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