1. Get out one sheet of notebook paper

2. Put a heading on the paperTitle:New Land, New Beginnings

Oklahoma Bellwork

1. What purposes did forts serve during 1830-1860?

2. How did the various tribes settle and govern themselves in Indian Territory during 1830-1850?

Guiding Questions

Indian Territory

DifficultNew land to farmDifferent languagesRival tribes

FreeLittle interaction with whites, unless they

wanted toGolden Era of Indians 1845-1875

Living in Indian Territory

FortsUsed to control and

protect Indians

It was mandated by the US Government that each tribe set up a governmentPart of assimilation

Had constitutions and laws

Tribal Governments

Academiesand MissionsThese helped educate the young population of Indians.

Us Military and the Light horse PoliceControlled

hostile IndiansTrafficked the

illegal Whiskey trade

Additional Indians

The US Government constantly added more tribes to Indian Territory.

Manifest Destiny

What factors led Americans and immigrants to move and settle in the West?

Section 1: Westward Movement

Immigrants in the 1800s embraced the freedom of their new country

The wanted to spread democratic beliefs across North America

Westward Movement

Belief that American’s should expand their land and spread their beliefs and idealism – John O’Sullivan

Why they moved?Births and immigration caused population to riseCheap land and opportunity for wealth led some

to move westRelocation of IndiansDemocracy was better than governments in

Europe

Manifest Destiny

Buffer ZoneLouisiana had been a

buffer zone between Euro-Americans and the Spanish, but settlers came into the region.

American settlers demanded protection from the federal government

President James K. Polk worked out treaty over

Oregon and annexed Texas

More Territory AddedMexican-American War

(1846-1848) secured much of the southwest for the U.S.

Gadsden Purchase (1853) set final border between U.S. and Mexico

Indian Territory (later Oklahoma) was viewed as poor

land for settlement (Capt. Benjamin Booneville)

Settlers came THROUGH Oklahoma but did not stay.

Impressions of Indian Territory

Immigrants, someone who moved to a new country to settle, came from Europe in the early 1800’s, for various reasons. The United States promised a better life in the form of change, prosperity and democracy. First, the immigrants moved to the US because their lives in Europe were full of poverty and lack of opportunity. They came to America in search of jobs, money and land. Land, which was a part of the “American Dream” was plentiful and with the movement of Indians to Indian Territory and now available to any settler willing to make the journey and settle out West. Settlers, traders, and hunters were slowly pushed west to make money and seek personal opportunity. Secondly, they believed the government of the US was far better than the repressive governments of Europe and sought to carry those ideals from the east coast of the country to the West. Democracy offered every white male, regardless of their background, an opportunity to vote and have their voice heard. This form of government and the opportunity for prosperity offered freedoms to people who never had experienced it before.

What factors led Americans and immigrants to move and settle in the West?

What were the best methods of travel for settlers moving West?

Section 2: Crossing the Territory

Crossing the Territory1. Rivers

best way to get around, but did not always flow in the direction travelers wanted to take

Problems: Flooding or drought could

affect river flow Boats could sink

Technology Advancements: 1827: First steamboats 1831: Enterprise traveled up

Red River to Kiamichi

2. Trails How they began?

Many trails began as animal paths Old Indian trails also used

Technological Advancements: Stagecoach Covered Wagon Caravan

Why they went: 1848: Gold discovered in California; began a gold rush

How long it took: Trails were rugged and dangerous, but took half the time of

ship travel (6 months vs. 1 year) 4-15 miles a day

Crossing the Territory

Santa Fe trail - 1821began in Independence, MOCimarron Route went through Oklahoma

Panhandle – shorter but drier than Rocky Mountain Route

Osage Trace or Texas Roadwent from St. Louis, MO to Santa Fe through

Oklahoma and TexasStations along the road provided relief for stage

coaches and other travelers

Different Trails

California Trail 1849: Fort Smith, AK across Oklahoma toward Santa Fe, NM

(over 800 miles)

Cherokee Trail – 1849From Arkansas through northern Oklahoma, Cherokee

Territory

Different Trails

Oregon Trail - 1850was more northerly; estimated 75,000

travelers west(Trails through Indian territory, more southerly,

handled about 25,000 in the same year)1851:

Fort Arbuckle (near Davis) to protect immigrants and keep peace with Indians

Traveling the Trails

3. Transcontinental Railroad: rail that spanned continent from Atlantic to Pacific

oceansMore organized land

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) divided and organized the territory north of Oklahoma

Settlers entered these areas and plans for the railroad were begun

Railroad Survey

Stagecoaches4.Butterfeild Overland Mail

were used 1850s-1870s to haul mail and travelers

The Butterfield Stage was famous company with a route across Oklahoma,

Stations located along the way to get fresh horses and refresh travelers

Choctaw and Chickasaw nations maintained roads and stations for a fee

Essay Answer

What were the best methods of travel for settlers moving West?

1. RiversSteamboats

2. TrailsList examples

3. RailroadLimited use

4. StagecoachesExamples