Changes

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 1920s, 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 1920s, 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 Republican Party dominates the state in every level of government and the state is very conservative. In the 2016 election, voters approved a referendum strengthening the legal position of the [[death penalty]] by amending the state's constitution to specifically state that it is not cruel or unusual punishment, with 61.2 percent in favor.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/death-penalty-affirmations-lead-in-three-states-oklahoma-nebraska-california/ Death penalty measures approved in Okla., Neb.] ''CBS News''. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>Frumin, Aliyah (November 9, 2016). [http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/election-2016-nebraska-oklahoma-vote-favor-death-penalty-n681301 Election 2016: Nebraska, Oklahoma Vote in Favor of Death Penalty]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/nebraska-ballot-measure-426-repeal-lb-268 Nebraska Referendum 426 — Nebraska Death Penalty Repeal Veto — Results: Rejected]. ''The New York Times''. November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.</ref> In May 2017, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring [[abortion]] murder and criticizing the Supreme Court for its role in legalizing the practice.<ref>Wilson, Reid (May 9, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/332496-oklahoma-house-declares-abortion-murder Oklahoma House declares abortion murder]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref> In February 2019, Oklahoma's governor signed a [[Constitutional carry]] bill into law.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (February 27, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/27/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-eliminating-concealed-permit-requirement/ Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Eliminating Concealed Permit Requirement]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 27, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/27/kevin-stitt-oklahoma-governor-signs-constitutional/ Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs 'constitutional carry' no-permit gun bill into law]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.</ref>

The Republican Party dominates the state in every level of government and the state is very conservative. In the 2016 election, voters approved a referendum strengthening the legal position of the [[death penalty]] by amending the state's constitution to specifically state that it is not cruel or unusual punishment, with 61.2 percent in favor.<ref>[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/death-penalty-affirmations-lead-in-three-states-oklahoma-nebraska-california/ Death penalty measures approved in Okla., Neb.] ''CBS News''. November 9, 2016. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>Frumin, Aliyah (November 9, 2016). [https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/2016-election-day/election-2016-nebraska-oklahoma-vote-favor-death-penalty-n681301 Election 2016: Nebraska, Oklahoma Vote in Favor of Death Penalty]. ''NBC News''. Retrieved November 9, 2016.</ref><ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/nebraska-ballot-measure-426-repeal-lb-268 Nebraska Referendum 426 — Nebraska Death Penalty Repeal Veto — Results: Rejected]. ''The New York Times''. November 21, 2016. Retrieved November 21, 2016.</ref> In May 2017, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed a resolution declaring [[abortion]] murder and criticizing the Supreme Court for its role in legalizing the practice.<ref>Wilson, Reid (May 9, 2017). [https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/332496-oklahoma-house-declares-abortion-murder Oklahoma House declares abortion murder]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 20, 2017.</ref> In February 2019, Oklahoma's governor signed a [[Constitutional carry]] bill into law.<ref>Hawkins, Awr (February 27, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/02/27/oklahoma-governor-signs-bill-eliminating-concealed-permit-requirement/ Oklahoma Governor Signs Bill Eliminating Concealed Permit Requirement]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 27, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/feb/27/kevin-stitt-oklahoma-governor-signs-constitutional/ Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs 'constitutional carry' no-permit gun bill into law]. ''The Washington Times'' (from the ''Associated Press''). February 27, 2019. Retrieved February 27, 2019.</ref>

===Oil===

===Oil===

*  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]]]  

* Gibson, Arrell Morgan. ''Oklahoma: A History of Five Centuries'' (1981) [http://www.amazon.com/Oklahoma-Centuries-Arrell-Morgan-Gibson/dp/0806117583/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199768836&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Gibson, Arrell Morgan. ''Oklahoma: A History of Five Centuries'' (1981) [https://www.amazon.com/Oklahoma-Centuries-Arrell-Morgan-Gibson/dp/0806117583/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199768836&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]

* Goble, Danny. ''Progressive Oklahoma: The Making of a New Kind of State'' (1979)   

* Goble, Danny. ''Progressive Oklahoma: The Making of a New Kind of State'' (1979)   

* Goins, Charles Robert  et al. ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (2006) [http://www.amazon.com/Historical-Atlas-Oklahoma-Charles-Robert/dp/0806134828/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199768836&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]

* Goins, Charles Robert  et al. ''Historical Atlas of Oklahoma'' (2006) [https://www.amazon.com/Historical-Atlas-Oklahoma-Charles-Robert/dp/0806134828/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199768836&sr=8-4 excerpt and text search]

* Gregory, James N. ''American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture'' (1991) [http://www.amazon.com/American-Exodus-Migration-Culture-California/dp/0195071360/ref=sid_av_dp excerpt and text search]

* Gregory, James N. ''American Exodus: The Dust Bowl Migration and Okie Culture'' (1991) [https://www.amazon.com/American-Exodus-Migration-Culture-California/dp/0195071360/ref=sid_av_dp excerpt and text search]

* Reese, Linda Williams. ''Women of Oklahoma, 1890-1920,'' (1997) [http://www.amazon.com/Women-Oklahoma-1890-1920-Linda-Williams/dp/0806129999/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769187&sr=8-7 excerpt and text search]

* Reese, Linda Williams. ''Women of Oklahoma, 1890-1920,'' (1997) [https://www.amazon.com/Women-Oklahoma-1890-1920-Linda-Williams/dp/0806129999/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199769187&sr=8-7 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]

* Wickett, Murray R. ''Contested Territory: Whites, Native Americans, and African Americans in Oklahoma 1865-1907'' (2000)  [https://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]

====References====

====References====