Read page 47   Chapter 4

What is the common mistake given to Oklahoma?

Who tamed the Oklahoma wilderness?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

   The common mistake people make is to date
Oklahoma as a settled community with the arrival
of the homesteaders.
 
 

   Indian Removal and the Trail of Tears brought
the 5 civilized tribes to Oklahoma.

   1.  cost many lives because of bad food supplied
        by greedy government contractors.

   2.  epidemics of smallpox, measles, and cholera

   3.  very hard on the young and the old/ created a
            population imbalance

   4.  Wealthy people in tribes were ruined/
            cattle, property lost

   5.  Removal split tribes into splintering groups.
 
 
 

   Recovery from Removal

Choctaws had greater unity and this helped
                in Indian Territory.

   1.  Choctaws drafted Ok's first written constitution
         which set up a government ruled by three chiefs,
               and a Bill of Rights.
 
 
 
 

Creeks were split into upper and lower creeks

   1.  upper creeks  led by Opothleyaholo

   2.  lower creeks led by the McIntosh family

   3.  Creeks divided into towns with local chiefs

   Seminoles were subject to government and
               laws of the Creeks

   4.  In 1859 the Creeks drafted 1st National Constitution.
 

Cherokee had difficult time establishing
                               unified government

   1.  Eastern chief John Ross caused problems

   2.  Western Cherokee (early settlers) objected to
            dividing their land with eastern Cherokee

            a.  Western leaders Elias Boudinot, John Ridge,
                    Major Ridge, and Stand Watie

            b.  Ridge's and Boudinot were killed in 1839

            c.  Ross took over leadership of the Cherokee

   3.  National Convention held in Tahlequah they
            wrote a constitution, Bill of Rights
 
 

Chickasaws  and Choctaws separated in 1855

        1.  Chickasaws formed their own government
            and @ Tishomingo, and elected a governor.
 
 
 
 

Seminoles did not like living with the Creeks

   1.  In 1856 Seminoles received their own land

   2.  Capital in Wanette led by warrior-chief
            John Jumper
 
 

   By 1856 Indian Territory had been divided into
            five semi- independent Indian republics.
 
 

   Workbook page 17