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'''Oklahoma''' is located in the Southern region of the [[United States]] and on November 16th, 1907 became the forty-sixth state to enter into the union. The capital of Oklahoma is [[Oklahoma City]], which is also its largest city.  According to the 2000 Census, the state's population was 3,450,654 people.[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40000.html]

'''Oklahoma''' is located in the Southern region of the [[United States]] and on November 16, 1907 became the forty-sixth state to enter into the union. The capital of Oklahoma is [[Oklahoma City]], which is also its largest city.  According to the 2000 Census, the state's population was 3,450,654 people.[http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40000.html]

Located in the [[Bible Belt]], Oklahoma has one of the most [[conservative]] populations in the Nation.  Yet its state supreme court is one of the most [[liberal]], and overall its legislature and governor are not as conservative as the voters.

Located in the [[Bible Belt]], Oklahoma has one of the most [[conservative]] populations in the Nation.  Yet its state supreme court is one of the most [[liberal]], and overall its legislature and governor are not as conservative as the voters.

Starting in 1820, the federal government started using the region to resettle tribes relocated from the Southeast. The tribes received federal subsidies in terms of food and supplies.  Named the '''Indian Territory''', it became home to over sixty tribes.  The largest were the "Five Civilized Tribes," ([[Cherokee]], [[Choctaw]], [[Chickasaw]], [[Creek]], and [[Seminole]]).  Intermarriage with whites had produced a modernizing leadership class that adopted American ways, often in the face of resistance from traditionalists. Christian missionaries were active with all the tribes, and were increasingly successful in converting them.  In 1830, [[Andrew Jackson]] had Congress pass the the [[Indian Removal Act]] giving the Army power to forcibly remove the tribes to their new territory.  Exposed to disease, lack of supplies, and emotional distress, there was great suffering during the removal; the ordeal is called the [[Trail of Tears]].  Apart from missionaries and a few federal agents, the population was entirely native American at this point.  

Starting in 1820, the federal government started using the region to resettle tribes relocated from the Southeast. The tribes received federal subsidies in terms of food and supplies.  Named the '''Indian Territory''', it became home to over sixty tribes.  The largest were the "Five Civilized Tribes," ([[Cherokee]], [[Choctaw]], [[Chickasaw]], [[Creek]], and [[Seminole]]).  Intermarriage with whites had produced a modernizing leadership class that adopted American ways, often in the face of resistance from traditionalists. Christian missionaries were active with all the tribes, and were increasingly successful in converting them.  In 1830, [[Andrew Jackson]] had Congress pass the the [[Indian Removal Act]] giving the Army power to forcibly remove the tribes to their new territory.  Exposed to disease, lack of supplies, and emotional distress, there was great suffering during the removal; the ordeal is called the [[Trail of Tears]].  Apart from missionaries and a few federal agents, the population was entirely native American at this point.  

===Civil War===

===Civil War===

At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] in 1861, federal agents abandoned Indian Territory.  The [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] moved in and negotiated treaties with the Five Civilized Tribes.  The tribes owned black slaves, which they fought to keep.  The Confederacy paid the subsidies the U.S. government had paid, permanently guarantee their lands and their right to tribal self-government, and provide military protection and guns. The Cherokees and Choctaws were authorized to send a delegate to the Confederate Congress, with the prospect of eventually become a Confederate state.<ref> Dale and Wardell, ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948) p. 164</ref>

At the outbreak of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] in 1861, federal agents abandoned Indian Territory.  The [[Confederate States of America|Confederacy]] moved in and negotiated treaties with the Five Civilized Tribes.  The tribes owned black slaves, which they fought to keep.  The Confederacy paid the subsidies the U.S. government had paid, permanently guarantee their lands and their right to tribal self-government, and provide military protection and guns. The Cherokees and Choctaws were authorized to send a delegate to the Confederate Congress, with the prospect of eventually become a Confederate state.<ref>Dale and Wardell, ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948) p. 164</ref>

As the Confederacy secured alliances with most of the tribes, some tried to remain neutral or pro-U.S., which led to violent conflict with the Confederate Indians.  The first battle in occurred at Round Mountain, where Confederates defeated Unionist Creek and Seminoles led by Opothleyahola.  The Confederates dominated the territory until early 1862, as Union forces returned and won battles at Pea Ridge, Fort Gibson, and Honey Springs.  The Confederate Indians were the last to surrender, three months after Robert E. Lee surrendered.<ref>Baird and Goble, ''The Story of Oklahoma'', (1994) p. 179</ref>

As the Confederacy secured alliances with most of the tribes, some tried to remain neutral or pro-U.S., which led to violent conflict with the Confederate Indians.  The first battle in occurred at Round Mountain, where Confederates defeated Unionist Creek and Seminoles led by Opothleyahola.  The Confederates dominated the territory until early 1862, as Union forces returned and won battles at Pea Ridge, Fort Gibson, and Honey Springs.  The Confederate Indians were the last to surrender, three months after Robert E. Lee surrendered.<ref>Baird and Goble, ''The Story of Oklahoma'', (1994) p. 179</ref>

Railroads brought new economic opportunities, and for the first time led to an influx of white settlers; soon the the Indians were outnumbered.  Hunters (both white and Indian) slaughtered the buffalo (bison)  herds, a primary food source of  some tribes.  Crime and lawlessness became rampant.  The tribes appealed to the federal government for help, which was granted in 1871 with the establishment of a federal court to deal with issues in the territory.  This new court usurped the power of less powerful Indian courts.  The [[Dawes Act of 1887]] gave Indians title to land individually (rather than tribally), and they started to sell it off.   

Railroads brought new economic opportunities, and for the first time led to an influx of white settlers; soon the the Indians were outnumbered.  Hunters (both white and Indian) slaughtered the buffalo (bison)  herds, a primary food source of  some tribes.  Crime and lawlessness became rampant.  The tribes appealed to the federal government for help, which was granted in 1871 with the establishment of a federal court to deal with issues in the territory.  This new court usurped the power of less powerful Indian courts.  The [[Dawes Act of 1887]] gave Indians title to land individually (rather than tribally), and they started to sell it off.   

By the 1880's many Americans were looking for a new start and sought to use the [[Homestead Act]] as the legal right to settle the unassigned lands in Oklahoma.  The federal government unsuccessfully attempted to disallow this.  Eventually the government relented and the Land Run of 1889 opened the lands of Oklahoma to white settlement on April 22, 1889. Over 50,000 homesteaders arrived and at noon raced to claim 160 acre homesteads.  Those settlers who made an illegal head start were called "sooners".<ref> Edward Everett Dale and Morris L. Wardell, ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948), 249-250 explain their actions were highly illegal. </ref>  

By the 1880's many Americans were looking for a new start and sought to use the [[Homestead Act]] as the legal right to settle the unassigned lands in Oklahoma.  The federal government unsuccessfully attempted to disallow this.  Eventually the government relented and the Land Run of 1889 opened the lands of Oklahoma to white settlement on April 22, 1889. Over 50,000 homesteaders arrived and at noon raced to claim 160 acre homesteads.  Those settlers who made an illegal head start were called "sooners".<ref>Edward Everett Dale and Morris L. Wardell, ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948), 249-250 explain their actions were highly illegal.</ref>  

Gradually more reservations were opened up as whites bought parcels of lands from Indian owners and formed farm and ranching settlements. The western part was separated and named '''Oklahoma Territory'''; a territorial government was formed by Congress in 1890. Cities sprang up overnight, including Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Kingfisher, Edmond, and Guthrie.  Guthrie became the new capital of Oklahoma Territory, in the west, with Indian Territory in the east.  

Gradually more reservations were opened up as whites bought parcels of lands from Indian owners and formed farm and ranching settlements. The western part was separated and named '''Oklahoma Territory'''; a territorial government was formed by Congress in 1890. Cities sprang up overnight, including Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Kingfisher, Edmond, and Guthrie.  Guthrie became the new capital of Oklahoma Territory, in the west, with Indian Territory in the east.  

The combined population reached 1 million, but they resisted being joined together and desired to be admitted to the United States as separate states.  Indian Territory had even gone to the lengths of creating a constitution to form a new state named Sequoyah.  The Roosevelt administration had no desire to see this happen, as he was a Republican and Indian Territory would have almost certainly been a Democratic stronghold.  Congress in 1906 authorized a constitutional convention to merge the two territories.  The convention and early government was dominated by Democrats. The '''State of Oklahoma''' was officially admitted to the Union on November 16, 1907, with a democratic constitution that prohibited liquor, established [[Jim Crow]] laws, provided for the initiative and referendum, created strong county governments, regulated railroad rates, and limited the governor to one elected term.   

The combined population reached 1 million, but they resisted being joined together and desired to be admitted to the United States as separate states.  Indian Territory had even gone to the lengths of creating a constitution to form a new state named Sequoyah.  The Roosevelt administration had no desire to see this happen, as he was a Republican and Indian Territory would have almost certainly been a Democratic stronghold.  Congress in 1906 authorized a constitutional convention to merge the two territories.  The convention and early government was dominated by Democrats. The '''State of Oklahoma''' was officially admitted to the Union on November 16, 1907, with a democratic constitution that prohibited liquor, established [[Jim Crow]] laws, provided for the initiative and referendum, created strong county governments, regulated railroad rates, and limited the governor to one elected term.   

===Politics===

===Politics===

The early years of statehood were marked with political activity.  In 1910, the Democrats moved the capital to Oklahoma City, three years before the Oklahoma Organic Act allowed, in order to move away from the Republican hotbed of Guthrie.  Socialism became a growing force among struggling farmers, and Oklahoma grew to have the largest Socialist vote in the United States at the time, with the Socialist vote doubling in every election until the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914.<ref>Baird and Goble, ''The Story of Oklahoma'', (1994) p. 346</ref>. However, the war drove food prices up, allowing the farmers to prosper, and the movement faded away.  By the 1920's, the Republican Party, taking advantage of rifts within the Democratic Party, gained control in the state.  The economy continued to improve,in the areas of cattle ranching, cotton, wheat, and especially, oil. Since 1968 Oklahoma has voted for the [[Republican Party]] in Presidential elections.

The early years of statehood were marked with political activity.  In 1910, the Democrats moved the capital to Oklahoma City, three years before the Oklahoma Organic Act allowed, in order to move away from the Republican hotbed of Guthrie.  Socialism became a growing force among struggling farmers, and Oklahoma grew to have the largest Socialist vote in the United States at the time, with the Socialist vote doubling in every election until the outbreak of [[World War I]] in 1914.<ref>Baird and Goble, ''The Story of Oklahoma'', (1994) p. 346</ref>  However, the war drove food prices up, allowing the farmers to prosper, and the movement faded away.  By the 1920's, the Republican Party, taking advantage of rifts within the Democratic Party, gained control in the state.  The economy continued to improve,in the areas of cattle ranching, cotton, wheat, and especially, oil. Since 1968 Oklahoma has voted for the [[Republican Party]] in Presidential elections.

===Oil===

===Oil===

==Further reading==

==Further reading==

* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/toc.html ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' from Oklahoma Historical Society]], highly recomended online resource

* [http://digital.library.okstate.edu/encyclopedia/toc.html ''Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture'' from Oklahoma Historical Society], highly recomended online resource

*  Baird, W. David, and Danney Goble. ''The Story of Oklahoma'' (2nd ed. 1994), 511 pages, survey by leading scholars  

*  Baird, W. David, and Danney Goble. ''The Story of Oklahoma'' (2nd ed. 1994), 511 pages, survey by leading scholars  

* Dale, Edward Everett, and Morris L. Wardell. ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948), 574 pp; standard scholarly history [http://www.questia.com/library/book/history-of-oklahoma-by-edward-everett-dale-morris-l-wardell.jsp online edition from [[Questia]]]  

* Dale, Edward Everett, and Morris L. Wardell. ''History of Oklahoma'' (1948), 574 pp; standard scholarly history [http://www.questia.com/library/book/history-of-oklahoma-by-edward-everett-dale-morris-l-wardell.jsp online edition from [[Questia]]]  

* Wickett, Murray R. ''Contested Territory: Whites, Native Americans, and African Americans in Oklahoma 1865-1907'' (2000)  [http://www.amazon.com/Contested-Territory-Americans-Oklahoma-18651907/dp/0807126470/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769187&sr=8-5 excerpt and text search]

* Wickett, Murray R. ''Contested Territory: Whites, Native Americans, and African Americans in Oklahoma 1865-1907'' (2000)  [http://www.amazon.com/Contested-Territory-Americans-Oklahoma-18651907/dp/0807126470/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769187&sr=8-5 excerpt and text search]

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{{USstates}}

{{USstates}}

[[Category : Oklahoma]]

[[Category:Oklahoma]]

[[Category : States of the United States]]

[[Category:States of the United States]]

[[Category : Red States]]

[[Category:Red States]]

[[Category : The South]]

[[Category:The South]]

[[Category : Southern United States]]

[[Category:Southern United States]]

[[Category : Regions of the United States]]

[[Category:Regions of the United States]]

[[Category : United States Geography]]

[[Category:United States Geography]]

[[Category : United States of America]]

[[Category:United States of America]]

[[Category : Geography]]

[[Category:Geography]]

[[Category : Oil]]

[[Category:Oil]]

[[Category : Oil Industry]]

[[Category:Oil Industry]]