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Land Run

Land Run. 1889. President Benjamin Harrison opened 2 million acres open for settlement Because of the Homestead Act (1862) legal settlers could claim 160 acres. Once they lived on it for 5 years and made improvements, they could receive the title .

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Land Run

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  1. Land Run

  2. 1889 • President Benjamin Harrison opened 2 million acres open for settlement • Because of the Homestead Act (1862) legal settlers could claim 160 acres. Once they lived on it for 5 years and made improvements, they could receive the title. • Pressure to open Oklahoma Territory for settlement came from the RR—they had a lot to benefit from a large population • It was opened up in runs, lotteries, and sealed bidding

  3. It wasn’t just poor farmers who wanted the land; professionals, capitalists and politicians saw the land runs as opportunity

  4. Sooners • They entered early and hid out until the legal time of entry • They made the argument that the legal time of entry was subjective—it could be sun time at high noon or meridian time

  5. The run was monitored by U.S. troops but only on a small portion of the perimeter of the Oklahoma Lands

  6. Boomers • Government said that the Homestead Act didn’t apply to the Unassigned Lands—they were not public • Charles Carpenter, and men like him, believed these lands ought to be opened and “boomed” loudly for the cause • “Prince of Boomers,” David Payne • Payne’s Oklahoma Colony planned to invade the Oklahoma lands; they planted stakes and roped off a town • Payne was arrested and tried before the Hanging Judge and fined $1,000

  7. April 22, 1889 • Estimated 50,000 • Opened at noon • People made their claim and planted a stake with their name and the location • Towns sprang up immediately • Estimated 11,000 homesteads were claimed Far and Away

  8. Fun Act Facts • The land run in 1889 led to the creation of Oklahoma Territory under the Organic Act • Congress approved the Oklahoma Enabling Act in order to prepare the entry of Oklahoma Territory and Indian Territory into the Union as one state • It was crucial this state be Republican • (Most of Indian Territory settlers had preferred the Democratic party because they came from states that had supported the Confederacy during the Civil War) • State of Sequoyah never comes to be

  9. Impact • Native Americans did not benefit like merchants, homesteaders and the railroads • Black Americans thought that since they’d been held in bondage by Native Americans, the Unassigned Lands should be opened to them (this did not happen) • Homesteaders had a rough life in the new land—many built their homes out of sod and lived on turnips

  10. Impact continued… • The progressive movement is gaining power during this time • It seeks to expand the power of the people and government in order to limit the growing power of business

  11. Boomers and Sooners

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