OKLAHOMA HISTORY – COACH BROWN

OKLAHOMA LAND RUN

Pleasant Poter – Muscogee Creek tribe and others offered 2.25 million to give up claims of the unassigned lands.

This was finalized in 1889.March 2, 1889 Congress passed an

amendment written by Representive William Springer of Indiana.

This amendment was a rider to the Indian Appropriation Act which forced President Grover Cleveland to sign the Act.

Springer Amendment

President Grover Cleveland

What is a rider on

an amendment?

Why was he

forced to sign

this act into law

because of the

Indian

Appropriation

act?

You have three

min to answer

and discuss with

a partner.

President Benjamin Harrison

• Issued the

proclamation

on March

23,1889 for

settling the

unassigned

lands.

• Homestead Act

allowed for

anyone elgible

to claim lands

in the

Unassigned

Lands.

Unassigned Land

• The act was to

happen at noon

on April 22,

1889.

• Illegal squatters

were to be

removed.

• Several sooners

did get by the

troops that were

to enforce

squatters from

getting there

early.

They could claim a quarter section of land. They were marked with cornerstones.

Partner questions How many acres a person could claim if a

section of land is 640?How many years did they have to live on land

before the could get the title for the land?If people disputed over the land analyze how

these disputes were resolved?

How much land a person could claim.

People from all over the land came to claim landIt is believed between 50,000 – 100,000 people

were involvedThey started from the south side of the lands at

Purcell, north side in Kansas and in the Cherokee Outlet, and west close to Fort Reno and King Fisher Stage Station.

It was a race to get to the land. This is were the term Boomer and Sooner came from.

Video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFrVoG-edFc

The First Land Run

Birth of Oklahoma CityApril 23, 1889Population went from 0 -12,000Originally named Oklahoma Station.Many of the land plots were claimed illegally by

Deputy Marshals that were there to enforce the law.

Birth of GuthrieApril 23, 1889Population went from 0 -10,000 – 3 months later was

15,000Mayor election was help buy voters votes being talliedBank of Guthrie – Establish with only pennies and stove for

a vault.

Four Square – Complete on separate piece of paper.

Fact Importance

Reason Impact

• Springer Amendment

• April 22, 1889 @ noon