The history of slavery in Oklahoma began in the 1830s with the five Native American nations in the area: Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole. Slavery within these Native American nations began simply by placing a lower status on them than their master. The slavery in these tribes varied in style, being specifically different from American slavery. Slavery in the area continued to grow for many years, even throughout the entirety of the Civil War. The growth was significant, slaves making up a portion of the population in the new Indian territory. Slavery ended in the Oklahoma area with the completion of the Civil War. Treaties were made with the nations regarding citizenship and slavery for African Americans. The repercussions of slavery that followed greatly affected the state, with prominent racial issues. Origins In 1830 the Indian Removal Act forced southern Indian nations out of their land and into new territories further west, the treaty stated that the options were to give up the land and move to the west or become citizens to the state. This was the reason for the movement of the Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole to the land which would one day become Oklahoma. With these nations moving to the west, they brought with them black people, including slaves. This was the beginning of slavery in the land of Oklahoma. When the Cherokees were relocating it was estimated that ten to fifteen percent of the nation were African Americans. This nation in particular brought not slaves, but freed blacks. This was one of the main reasons that they were forced out of their previous land. The nation had become a safe space for slaves to run away to and slave owners wanted to diminish that possibility for slaves in the south. With the forced removal of the five nations into the land of Oklahoma throughout the course of time, slavery began and progressed in the Indian territory. Specifically, in the Choctaw and Chickasaw nations, slavery and the ownership of black people became common. Beginning in Mississippi, both nations became very familiar with the idea of slavery. Following the Indian Removal Act those nations brought slavery into the Indian territory that became Oklahoma. As time continued, both nations would buy and sell slaves through other slave owners and slave traders. Overview Native Americans had long taken other people as prisoners in a form called captive-taking.