In the 1830s the grassy plains that were located between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains was designated as Indian Territory In the 1840 may trails, like the Oregon trail were opened and settlers began moving west, but bypassed (traveled through) the Indian Territory. When precious minerals are discovered in California, a mass migration of settlers move west in search on quick wealth.

1848 – Discovery of gold in California o James Marshall discovers gold while building Sutter’s Mill 1849 – Nearly 100,000 people migrate across the Great Plains seeking wealth in California – they are the 49er’s 1859 – Gold is discovered in Colorado o Over 100,000 people migrate across the Great Plains into Colorado 1859 – Silver is discovered in Nevada

In 1854 congress passed the Kansas –Nebraska Act of 1854 o This law opened the Indian Territory up for settlement by white farmers. In 1862 congress passed the Homestead Act of 1862 to encourage farmers and settlers to move into the Indian Territory (Midwest)

– Allows citizens to settle on 160 acres of unclaimed public land. – Land was free – Settlers had to live on and make improvements on the land for five year then they received the title Homesteaders – the people who settled on the free land, built houses out of Sod - blocks of dirt and prairie grass this type of home was known as a Soddy.

Oklahoma Land Rush’s – 1885, 1889, and 1893 – 2 million acres of land given away – On September 16, 1893 a cannon's boom unleashed the largest land rush in American history – Approximately 100,000 settlers raced to claim 42,000 parcels of land Sooners Sooners – people who had snuck into the land claim area before the race began Boomers Boomers - those who had waited for the cannon's boom before rushing into the land claim