Oklahomans are filled
with pride
for their land
of diverse cultures,
scenic lakes and rivers,
and its people’s
friendliness.
On November 16th 1907,
Oklahoma became the
46th state of the United States.
How did Oklahoma
become a state?
Most states start out as a
territory…but Oklahoma
started out as TWO territories!
Before new lands are added
to the United States,
they spend a few years
being a “territory.”
The next map shows all fifty states
as they joined the union
over one hundred years our
nation’s growing ….
Map of all 50 states’ admission
to the United States…
A “territory” is part of the
United States, but its Governor
is appointed by
our national Congress.
People who live in a territory
must follow the laws that the
Congress makes for them.
The United States Congress
has the power to admit new
states to the unionafter the citizens living there
have decided
that is what they want.
First, state leaders gather
together at a convention
(meeting) to write a state
constitution.
All states have their own
constitution- an agreement
of how their government
will be run.
After the state Constitution
is approved,
Congress then admits that
territory as a state in the
United States of America.
And that is just what the
people in Oklahoma did.
Only there were TWO
groups of people
who wanted to join
the United States!
In 1905, leaders of
many Indian tribes
met together to ask
for statehood.
They wanted to join
their lands together
into a state, named
after the Cherokee
leader, Sequoyah.
State of
Sequoyah
Another group of people
met in Oklahoma City to
propose admission of the
western areas into a state
called Oklahoma.
State of
Oklahoma
But Congress would not
approve either group’s request.
The TWO territories were asked
to work together and find a way
to create ONE state.
In November, 1906,
fifty-five men from
Indian Territory and fifty-five men
from Oklahoma Territory met
together to write a constitution for
one state.
This original state
constitution is in the
Oklahoma History
museum.
They agreed to call the state
“Oklahoma.”
The capital
was located
in the center
of the state
in the town
of Guthrie.
And the people from both
territories voted “YES”
to the joining of TWO territories
together.
One year later, Congress
admitted Oklahoma
as the 46th state.
President Theodore Roosevelt
signed the law
that would officially
make us a state!
Oklahoma
is now
a state!
…declared President Roosevelt as
he signed the statehood
proclamation at 10:16 o’clock on the
morning of November 16, 1907.
The White House telegraph
was connected to Guthrie and
the minute the President signed
the proclamation,
the information was flashed
to the new state!!!
A crowd was
already waiting
in the streets
to celebrate.
People cheered,
men fired pistols
into the air,
and bands played.
The people
had already
held an
election days
before to
choose their
first Governor,
Charles
Haskell.
He was there,
in Guthrie that
morning, to
take his
oath of office
as our first
Governor.
"I do solemnly swear
that I will support, obey,
and defend the
Constitution of the
United States, and the
Constitution of the State
of Oklahoma, and that I
will faithfully discharge
my duties as Governor
of the State of Oklahoma
to the best of my
ability."
As part of the ceremony,
a pretend wedding was held
between a man who stood for
Oklahoma Territory
and a woman who stood for
Indian Territory.
A minister of a
nearby church
“married” the
two territories
into ONE state,
Oklahoma!
When
Oklahoma
was 25 years
old, in 1932,
the “wedding”
ceremony
was repeated
in Guthrie…
Later, this postage stamp was created
to celebrate our 50th birthday .
Oklahoma
celebrates its 100th
birthday as a state
in 2007.
IMany celebrations are planned,
including this new postage stamp…
What other ways
can we celebrate
our statehood?
Created for OCSS, courtesy
of Pam Merrill,
Edmond Public Schools