Learning GoalsLearning Goals

The students will have an The students will have an understanding the Cherokee understanding the Cherokee Outlet and Kickapoo openings.Outlet and Kickapoo openings.

The Jerome The Jerome CommissionCommission The opening of the Unassigned Lands was just the The opening of the Unassigned Lands was just the

beginning for Oklahoma Territory. The non-Indian beginning for Oklahoma Territory. The non-Indian public hoped that all the Indian reservations would be public hoped that all the Indian reservations would be opened for settlement and the government did its opened for settlement and the government did its best to oblige.best to oblige.

In July 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed In July 1889 President Benjamin Harrison appointed the Jerome Commission also known as the Cherokee the Jerome Commission also known as the Cherokee Commission to negotiate with tribes in the western Commission to negotiate with tribes in the western territory.territory.

Each man, woman, and child on the tribal rolls was to Each man, woman, and child on the tribal rolls was to receive 160 acres of land. The remainder of the tribal receive 160 acres of land. The remainder of the tribal lands would be purchased by the US Government and lands would be purchased by the US Government and opened to settlement by non-Indiansopened to settlement by non-Indians

The Second OpeningThe Second Opening

On September 22, 1891 in a run On September 22, 1891 in a run similar to the one conducted on the similar to the one conducted on the Unassigned lands, 900,000 acres of Unassigned lands, 900,000 acres of Sac and Fox, Pottawatomie, Iowa, and Sac and Fox, Pottawatomie, Iowa, and Shawnee lands were opened.Shawnee lands were opened.

Twenty thousand people competed for Twenty thousand people competed for 5600 claims.5600 claims.

The area became Lincoln and The area became Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties.Pottawatomie Counties.

Opening the Cherokee Opening the Cherokee OutletOutlet Since the first opening of Indian lands to non-Since the first opening of Indian lands to non-

Indian settlement the lands many people had Indian settlement the lands many people had been waiting for were in the Cherokee Outlet.been waiting for were in the Cherokee Outlet.

The Cherokee Strip Livestock Association had The Cherokee Strip Livestock Association had worked long and hard to prevent the opening worked long and hard to prevent the opening and to retain its lease of those lands.and to retain its lease of those lands.

However, in 1890 the President declared However, in 1890 the President declared their lease invalid and ordered them to their lease invalid and ordered them to remove their livestock from the area.remove their livestock from the area.

The Jerome Commission made an agreement The Jerome Commission made an agreement with the Cherokee Nation after long months with the Cherokee Nation after long months of deliberation and the Outlet was opened for of deliberation and the Outlet was opened for settlement on September 16,1893settlement on September 16,1893

Prettyman’s Prettyman’s PhotographPhotograph The Cherokee Outlet opening also The Cherokee Outlet opening also

included lands which had belonged to included lands which had belonged to the Tonkawa's and Pawnees. It was the Tonkawa's and Pawnees. It was perhaps the most famous of all perhaps the most famous of all openings thanks the William S. openings thanks the William S. Prettyman a frontier photographer from Prettyman a frontier photographer from Kansas.Kansas.

With his experience at the first opening With his experience at the first opening Prettyman devised a scheme whereby Prettyman devised a scheme whereby he might produce the best possible he might produce the best possible picture of the beginning of the land run.picture of the beginning of the land run.

The RaceThe Race

The Cherokee Outlet opening was operated somewhat The Cherokee Outlet opening was operated somewhat differently from the other openings. The Racers were differently from the other openings. The Racers were required to register before the race, and anyone who required to register before the race, and anyone who later filed a claim was required to show his later filed a claim was required to show his registration paper.registration paper.

No claim could be filed without it. It was hoped that No claim could be filed without it. It was hoped that this would impair the Sooners from claiming so much this would impair the Sooners from claiming so much land.land.

In fact there were probably more Sooners In fact there were probably more Sooners participating in this run than in any previous. They participating in this run than in any previous. They simply registered before they entered the area.simply registered before they entered the area.

Pawnee, Kay, Grant, Garfield, Noble, Woodward, and Pawnee, Kay, Grant, Garfield, Noble, Woodward, and Woods counties were created by the opening of the Woods counties were created by the opening of the Cherokee Outlet.Cherokee Outlet.

Opening the Kickapoo Opening the Kickapoo ReservationReservation The last area to be opened by run The last area to be opened by run

was the Kickapoo Reservation. was the Kickapoo Reservation. The Kickapoo land area was The Kickapoo land area was small.small.

Opened in 1895 the land area Opened in 1895 the land area was attached to existing counties.was attached to existing counties.

Greer CountyGreer County

Greer County had been in dispute with Texas Greer County had been in dispute with Texas for several years. The Adams-Onis Treaty of for several years. The Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 had declared the Red River the boundary 1819 had declared the Red River the boundary between the two areas, but at the western between the two areas, but at the western corner of the area the North Fork of the Red corner of the area the North Fork of the Red River separated a triangular section of land River separated a triangular section of land totaling 1,500,00 acres.totaling 1,500,00 acres.

Texas claimed that the North Fork was the Texas claimed that the North Fork was the dividing line and moved into the area.dividing line and moved into the area.

The Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890 ordered a The Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890 ordered a lawsuit to determine the actual boundary. On lawsuit to determine the actual boundary. On May 4, 1896 an act of Congress declared May 4, 1896 an act of Congress declared Greer County to be part of Oklahoma TerritoryGreer County to be part of Oklahoma Territory

Ethnic GroupsEthnic Groups

People of other ethnic origins often settled in groups, People of other ethnic origins often settled in groups, according to race, religion, or occupation.according to race, religion, or occupation.

Many Germans made their homes in El Reno, Enid, Many Germans made their homes in El Reno, Enid, Muskogee, and Leedy.Muskogee, and Leedy.

Ukrainian settlement was in HartshorneUkrainian settlement was in Hartshorne Czechs settled in Bison and PragueCzechs settled in Bison and Prague One religious group whose members did cluster One religious group whose members did cluster

together were the Mennonites. There were Mennonite together were the Mennonites. There were Mennonite settlements in Gotebo, Bessie, Corn, Geary, Canton, settlements in Gotebo, Bessie, Corn, Geary, Canton, Fairview, Meno, Enid, Medford, Perry, Hooker, and Fairview, Meno, Enid, Medford, Perry, Hooker, and Turpin.Turpin.

African Americans made up the largest ethnic group in African Americans made up the largest ethnic group in Oklahoma Territory and there were several all African Oklahoma Territory and there were several all African American towns. A few were Langston, Lima, bailey, American towns. A few were Langston, Lima, bailey, Ferguson, Tatums, and Lincoln City.Ferguson, Tatums, and Lincoln City.

Oklahoma’s Oklahoma’s African-African-American American CommunitiesCommunities

African African Americans Americans created around created around 30 towns and 30 towns and settlements in settlements in Oklahoma.Oklahoma.

..

Some of the Some of the towns died, towns died, but 13but 13are still are still here.here.

Towns like: Towns like:

Boley, Brooksville, Boley, Brooksville, Clearview, Grayson, Clearview, Grayson, Langston, Lima, Langston, Lima, Redbird, Summit, Redbird, Summit, Taft, Tatums,Taft, Tatums,Tullahassee, and Vernon. Tullahassee, and Vernon.

Entrepreneurs Entrepreneurs (business owners) (business owners) in these in these communities communities started newspapers, started newspapers, banks, and grocery banks, and grocery stores.stores.

Edward P. Edward P. McCabe, McCabe, from Kansas, from Kansas, helped build the helped build the town of town of Langston. He Langston. He encouraged encouraged more African more African Americans Americans to settle there.to settle there.

Today, although Today, although only 13 towns only 13 towns still survive, still survive, we remember we remember the pioneering the pioneering spirit of those spirit of those communities.communities.

Chapter 15 Quiz• 1.) What commission was put together to negotiate

with the Western Tribes about opening up Indian Reservations for settlement

• a.) Reservation Commission• b.) Settlement Commission• c.) Jerome Commisssion

• 2.) How much land was each man, women and child going to get if they opened up their land for settlement?

• a.) 160 acres• b.) 80 acres• c.) 40 Acres

• 3.) What counties were formed as a result of the 2nd Land Opening?

• a.) Payne and Logan Counties• b.) Lincoln and Pottawatomie Counties• c.) Oklahoma and Logan Counties

• 4.) Which lands were the most coveted for opening?• a.) Cherokee Strip• b.) No Man’s Land• c.) The lands along the Red River

• 5.) Why were Racers required to register before the Cherokee Outlet opening and not after as in previous land openings?

• a.) They were trying to reduce the amount of people who entered the race

• b.) They were trying to reduce the amount of Sooners in the race

• c.) They were trying to increase the amount of people who entered the race.

• 6.) Name two of the seven counties that were opened during the Cherokee Outlet opening.

• __________________________________________________

• 7.) What was the last area to be opened up by landrun?

• a.) The Kickapoo Reservation• b.) The Cherokee Strip• c.) No Man’s Land

• 8.) Although there were several different ethnic groups that got land in the openings, which was the largest ethnic group in Oklahoma territory at this time?

• a.) Germans• b.) Irish• c.) African Americans

• 9.) Who became the first territorial governor of Oklahoma?

• a.) George Washington Steele• b.) Stand Watie• c.) Charles Haskell

• 10.) What system was set up to give away the rest of the land after the government stopped using the land rushes system?

• a.) Purchasing the land from the government• b.) Lottery system• c.) No further land was given away after the land

rush system was abolished

Chapter 15 Quiz• 1.) What commission was put together to

negotiate with the Western Tribes about opening up Indian Reservations for settlement

• 2.) How much land was each man, women and child going to get if they opened up their land for settlement?

• 3.) What counties were formed as a result of the 2nd Land Opening?

• 4.) Which lands were the most coveted for opening?

• 5.) Why were Racers required to register before the Cherokee Outlet opening and not after as in previous land openings?

• 6.) Name two of the seven counties that were opened during the Cherokee Outlet opening.

• __________________________________

• 7.) What was the last area to be opened up by landrun?

• 8.) Although there were several different ethnic groups that got land in the openings, which was the largest ethnic group in Oklahoma territory at this time?

• 9.) Who became the first territorial governor of Oklahoma?

• 10.) What system was set up to give away the rest of the land after the government stopped using the land rushes system?