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==History==
==History==
===Politics===
In the territorial era, from 1864 unti; statehood in 1889, Montana Territory's 14 elections of territorial delegates to Congress show that the electorate voted for candidates they believed would have influence in Washington to gain federal support for territorial development. Martin Maginnis (1872-84), the longest tenured territorial delegate in the western territories, exemplified the delegate who could secure support in Washington for his constituents' projects. Maginnis, Joseph K. Toole (1884-88), and William H. Clagett (1871-72) were considered successful delegates because they were able to win congressional approval for additional forts, aid for railroads, and reduction of Indian reservations in Montana.<ref> Richard B. Roeder, "Electing Montana's Territorial Delegates: the Beginnings of a Political System." ''Montana: the Magazine of Western History'' 1988 38(3): 58-68 </ref>
===Law and order===
===Law and order===
In early 1864 in southwestern Montana a group of law-abiding citizens, responding to the increasing lawlessness plaguing the gold-mining towns in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, formed a vigilante society and hanged 21 accused criminals.<ref> Frederick Allen, ''A Decent Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes'' (2004)</ref>
In early 1864 in southwestern Montana a group of law-abiding citizens, responding to the increasing lawlessness plaguing the gold-mining towns in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, formed a vigilante society and hanged 21 accused criminals.<ref> Frederick Allen, ''A Decent Orderly Lynching: The Montana Vigilantes'' (2004)</ref>