Progression Toward Statehood

Articles of Confederation Era Land Ordinance of 1785 –Land divided into “sections” –General idea of 160 acres ½ Section 320 acres ¼ Sect. 160 acres

Articles of Confederation Era Northwest Ordinance of 1787 –Process for statehood –Region organized as “territory” –Apply for statehood once “territory” has 60,000 people & a constitution

Creation of Indian Territory Removal gives region population “Territory” but not considered for statehood

Homestead Act of 1862 “Free” 160 acres if you live on & improve land for 5 years Encourages white migration/settlement of the West

Post-Civil War Era Five Tribes lost land due to war 30 more tribes moved in to Indian Territory Not considered for statehood “Unassigned Lands” in center becomes attractive to whites

Dawes Act of 1887 Allotments in severalty Each tribe member gets a specific amount of land in acres Ends “reservations” in Indian Territory U.S. gov’t can buy remaining land Backed by Curtis Act of 1898

Resistance Some tribes tried to ignore it. Did not read mail. Crazy Snake Rebellion: Creek, Chitto Harjo and others attacked those Indians who accepted allotments, feds ended it Keetoowah: Cherokee, wanted to hold land in common

Land Openings Elias C. Boudinot (Cherokee): encourages Five Tribes to sell unused land to U.S. gov’t Boomers: –David L. Payne attempts to colonize Unassigned Lands –William Couch & his group forced out due to a military blockade

Land Openings Springer Amendment April 22, 1889: Unassigned Lands “Harrison’s Hoss Race” Could claim 160 acres in race if: –21 year old male –21 year old completely single female –Cannot already own 160+ acres

Land Openings Sooners: sneak across line early & make illegal claims –Make sure and know difference between Boomers and Sooners Violence often broke out –William Couch was shot/killed

Land Openings Sept. 22, 1891: Sac & Fox, Pottawatomie, Iowa, & Shawnee April 19, 1892: Cheyenne- Arapaho –Jockey/race horse –Hot air balloon –Horse drawn buses Still problems with Sooners

Land Openings Sept. 16, 1893: Cherokee Outlet –Pre-race registration hopes to limit Sooners—actually more in this race –William Prettyman photographed race (see examples) May 3, 1895: Kickapoo lands –Last race –Only 80 acre plots

William Prettyman

Croft and Miller

Land Openings 1896, Supreme Court rules Greer County isn’t Texas & opens the land—Adams-Onis Treaty used 1901: Lottery used to open Kiowa-Comanche and Wichita lands –Big Pasture & Wood Reserve are not open but will be auctioned off in 1906

White Settlers’ Hardships No official law—fear of Indian attack New homes: Dugouts (most common) & soddies Unwelcome visitors: insects, snakes, & other vermin Cold winters & Hot summers Towns

Twin Territories Whites in Western Indian Territory gain permission to seek statehood & create “Oklahoma Territory”—only western half---Organic Act 1890 E.P. McCabe attempts to make OK a black state (Langston city & univ.) Indian Territory attempts to create State of Sequoyah—Congress says NO

First Territorial Government George W. Steele of Indiana=1 st territorial governor “Carpetbagging” Schools: public schools, Counties had discretion on segregation, University at Norman (OU), A & M college at Stillwater (OSU), and normal school at Edmond (UCO) Guthrie was territorial capital

Cherokee Commission Jerome Commission Land allotments to western tribes, ended reservations More land openings

Territorial Governors Steele resigned after a year. William Renfrow was only Democrat---two more schools at Alva and Langston Barnes---two mores schools at Tonkawa and Weatherford Jenkins---removed from office by T. Roosevelt T.B. Ferguson---newspaper in Watonga Frank Frantz---last, led us into statehood

Only ONE New State OK Enabling Act, 1906: OT & IT merged to create one new state Indians would become citizens of new state Constitutional Convention in Guthrie –William H. Murray as president –99 Democrats, 12 Republicans, 1 Indep.

Oklahoma’s Constitution Viewed as most “progressive” –Initiative –Referendum –Female suffrage in school elections –8 hour work day (miners & gov’t workers) –OK will be a “dry” state Jim Crow laws added to restrict rights of blacks

The 46 th Star Sept 17, 1907: people vote on Constitution & new officials Pres. Theodore Roosevelt “reluctantly” approves constitution on Nov 16, 1907 Mock wedding in Guthrie of Indian & white shows union of Twin Territories 1 st Governor: Charles N. Haskell Capital: Guthrie