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→Railroads and white settlement
===Railroads and white settlement===
===Railroads and white settlement===
[[File:John R. Thomas Oklahoma judge.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Portrait of Judge [[J. R. Thomas]], who notably gave the death sentence to white settlers in Indian Territory who tortured and murdered Seminoles.]]
[[File:John R. Thomas Oklahoma judge.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Portrait of Judge [[J. R. Thomas]], who notably gave the death sentence to white settlers in Indian Territory who tortured and murdered Seminoles.]]
[[File:George W. Steele congressman.png|thumb|right|230px|Portrait of [[George W. Steele]], first Governor of Oklahoma Territory.]]
[[File:George W. Steele Territorial Governor.jpg|thumb|right|230px|Portrait of [[George W. Steele]], first Governor of Oklahoma Territory.]]
Railroads brought new economic opportunities, and for the first time led to an influx of white settlers; soon 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 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.