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"Boomers" is the name used for two groups of settlers in the Southern United States in what is now the state of Oklahoma. The first group were participants in the "Boomer Movement."

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President Grover Cleveland signed the Indian appropriations act, which officially opened the Unassigned Lands to non-native settlers under tenets of the Homestead Act.

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A race for the Unassigned Lands would begin in 1889. Male citizens who were at least 21 years of age were eligible to enter the race, as were women of the same age who were single, widowed, or legally separated from their husbands. Each entrant would claim a quarter section of land (160 acres)

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People who entered early were called “Sooners” by the other participants, the people who crossed the boundaries early found choice plots of land, staked their claims, and his until time for race. Some staked several claims and sold all but one to other hopeful settlers. They were called “sooners” because they crossed the line before they were supposed to.

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On April 22, 1889, designated military officers fired their guns at noon to start the race. When the race was over, thousands of disappointed entrants left the area. Of the 14,000 Boomers, fewer than 1,000 obtained claims.All claims were subject to the Federal Homestead Act, which meant that improvements had to be made on that land and the claimant had to occupy it within a given length of time.

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THE FORT SMITH COURT/MAJOR CRIMES ACT - 1883-1896

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THE FORT SMITH COURT/MAJOR CRIMES ACT - 1883-1896

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A court was set up for the Indians, it was called the Fort Smith Court. The Indians hated the Fort Smith Court- repeatedly asked for a federal court in Muskogee. In 1896, 3 U.S. District Courts were established in Indian territory removing jurisdiction of the Fort Smith Court from all of Indian Territory.

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THE DAWES COMMISSION/FORCIBLE ENROLLMENT - 1893

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THE DAWES COMMISSION/FORCIBLE ENROLLMENT - 1893

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In March, 1893, Congress passed the annual Indian Appropriations Act with an addition to the act establishing the Dawes Commission. The job of the Commission was to persuade the Five Civilized Tribes to accept the allotments in severally in exchange for their tribal lands. Most Indians vigorously opposed the work of the commission.

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U.S. representative Charles Curtis of Kansas introduced a bill in 1896 authorizing the allotment of Indian Territory lands without the approval of the tribes. Congress considered the bill again and passed it with Presidential approval on June 28, 1898. The Curtis Act was an enactment of the bill passed in 1871 abolishing treaties with Indians as sovereign nations. It was the final conquest of the native americans.

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THE ORGANIC ACT // OKLAHOMA TERRITORY 1890-1901

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THE ORGANIC ACT // OKLAHOMA TERRITORY 1890-1901

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The Organic Act, which set up government for Oklahoma Territory, also allowed for the admission of each tribal area to the Territory of Oklahoma as it was opened to white settlement. All western Indian Territory was opened to white settlement by 1901 and was part of Oklahoma Territory.

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A convention was held at Muskogee on August 21, 1905.

Chief Pleasant Porter was elected president of the convention, and five vice-presidents were elected, one from each of the Five Civilized Tribes. The people wrote a constitution and then ratified it. Congress gave the whole thing very little attention and did not take it seriously.

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It was simply an act passed to cover a lot of undecided polices. Like making the sale of liquor to anyone under 21 illegal and setting up courts.

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A very progressive constitution, despite the Jim Crow laws. It has an 8 hour work day and allowed women to vote in school elections along with other things.

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November 16, 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt reluctantly signed the statehood proclamation and declared, “Oklahoma is a state.”