Oklahoma History Unit 7 Review: The Land Run of 1889 and Early Statehood

Historical Context

• Oklahoma Territory formed from Indian Territory in 1890 following a series of land cessions by Native American tribes
• Pressure from settlers and land speculators led to the opening of unassigned lands in central Oklahoma for settlement
• The Dawes Act of 1887 allowed for the allotment of tribal lands to individual Native Americans, with surplus land sold to non-Native settlers
• The Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890 established the territorial government and set the stage for the Land Run of 1889
• Boomers, led by David L. Payne, had advocated for the opening of unassigned lands in Indian Territory since the late 1870s
• Sooners, who entered the territory before the official start of the Land Run, sought to secure prime land claims
• The Land Run was part of a larger pattern of westward expansion and the dispossession of Native American lands in the late 19th century

The Land Run: Preparation and Process

• President Benjamin Harrison issued a proclamation on March 23, 1889, announcing the opening of unassigned lands in Oklahoma Territory
• The proclamation set April 22, 1889, at noon as the official start time for the Land Run
• Prospective settlers gathered at the borders of the unassigned lands, waiting for the signal to start the race for land claims
• Participants in the Land Run included farmers, businessmen, speculators, and adventurers from across the United States
• The Land Run began with the firing of guns and the blowing of bugles, signaling the start of the race for land
• Settlers used various means of transportation, including horses, wagons, trains, and even bicycles, to reach their desired land claims
• Once a settler reached a plot of land, they had to stake a claim by marking the corners of the property and filing a claim at the nearest land office
  • Claim markers included wooden stakes, piles of rocks, and even pieces of clothing
• Disputes over land claims were common, as multiple settlers often claimed the same plot of land

Key Figures and Groups

• David L. Payne, known as the "Father of Oklahoma," led the Boomer movement advocating for the opening of unassigned lands in Indian Territory
• William L. Couch, a prominent Boomer, led a group of settlers in an early attempt to establish a settlement in the unassigned lands in 1884
• Captain David L. Payne, a U.S. Army officer, was tasked with removing Boomers from the unassigned lands prior to the official Land Run
• Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, issued the proclamation that opened the unassigned lands for settlement
• Boomers were settlers who advocated for the opening of unassigned lands in Indian Territory for non-Native settlement
• Sooners were individuals who entered the unassigned lands before the official start of the Land Run, often to secure prime land claims
• Land speculators participated in the Land Run, seeking to acquire land for resale at a profit
• Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole, were affected by the opening of the unassigned lands and the influx of non-Native settlers

Immediate Aftermath and Settlement

• The Land Run resulted in the rapid establishment of towns and cities, such as Oklahoma City and Guthrie, which became the territorial capital
• Tent cities sprang up overnight as settlers awaited the construction of more permanent dwellings
• Land offices were overwhelmed with the volume of land claims filed in the days following the Land Run
• Disputes over land claims led to legal challenges and, in some cases, violence between rival claimants
• The population of Oklahoma Territory grew rapidly, with an estimated 50,000 settlers arriving in the first year after the Land Run
• The influx of settlers put pressure on natural resources, such as water and timber, leading to environmental challenges
• The establishment of farms and ranches transformed the landscape of central Oklahoma, with the introduction of new crops and livestock
• The development of transportation infrastructure, including railroads and roads, facilitated the growth of towns and cities in the territory

Challenges and Conflicts

• Disputes over land claims were a major source of conflict in the aftermath of the Land Run, with multiple settlers often claiming the same plot of land
  • These disputes led to legal challenges and, in some cases, violence between rival claimants
• The rapid influx of settlers put pressure on natural resources, such as water and timber, leading to environmental degradation and resource scarcity
• Tensions between Native American tribes and non-Native settlers increased as the population of Oklahoma Territory grew and competition for land and resources intensified
• The allotment of tribal lands under the Dawes Act led to the fragmentation of Native American communities and the loss of tribal land holdings
• Racism and discrimination against Native Americans and African Americans were prevalent in early territorial society
• The territorial government struggled to establish law and order in the rapidly growing settlements, with limited resources and infrastructure
• Economic challenges, such as droughts and fluctuations in crop prices, affected the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers in the territory

Path to Statehood

• The Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890 established the territorial government and set the stage for eventual statehood
• The population of Oklahoma Territory continued to grow rapidly, with the 1900 census recording a population of over 790,000
• The discovery of oil in the territory in 1897 fueled further economic growth and attracted additional settlers
• In 1905, the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole) agreed to the dissolution of their tribal governments, paving the way for statehood
• The Oklahoma Enabling Act of 1906 provided for the admission of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory as a single state
• A constitutional convention was held in Guthrie in 1906 to draft the state constitution
• On November 16, 1907, Oklahoma was admitted to the Union as the 46th state, with its capital in Guthrie (later moved to Oklahoma City in 1910)

Early State Government and Politics

• The Oklahoma Constitution, adopted in 1907, established a tripartite system of government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches
• The constitution included provisions for initiative, referendum, and recall, giving citizens a direct role in the legislative process
• Charles N. Haskell, a Democrat, was elected as the first governor of the state of Oklahoma
• The early state government was dominated by the Democratic Party, which held a majority in the state legislature and controlled most statewide offices
• The state government focused on issues such as education, infrastructure development, and the regulation of the growing oil industry
• The Oklahoma Legislature established a system of public schools and universities, including the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University
• The state government also enacted laws to regulate the oil industry, including the establishment of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to oversee oil and gas production
• Political corruption and influence peddling were significant issues in early Oklahoma politics, with the oil industry and other special interests exerting significant influence on state government

Legacy and Impact

• The Land Run of 1889 and the subsequent settlement of Oklahoma Territory had a lasting impact on the state's history, culture, and demographics
• The rapid growth of towns and cities, such as Oklahoma City and Tulsa, laid the foundation for Oklahoma's urban development in the 20th century
• The allotment of tribal lands and the influx of non-Native settlers significantly altered the demographics of Oklahoma, with Native Americans becoming a minority in their ancestral lands
• The discovery of oil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries transformed Oklahoma's economy, making it a major producer of oil and natural gas
• The state's agricultural sector, established in the aftermath of the Land Run, remained a significant contributor to Oklahoma's economy throughout the 20th century
• Oklahoma's early history of racial discrimination and segregation, rooted in the territorial period, continued to shape the state's social and political landscape well into the 20th century
• The legacy of the Land Run and the dispossession of Native American lands remains a complex and controversial issue in Oklahoma history
• The resilience and determination of Oklahoma's early settlers, both Native and non-Native, have become an integral part of the state's cultural identity and heritage