of 1889 to authorize settlement under the provisions of the Homestead Act of 1862. The amendment, however, denied the settlers their squatter's rights. The lands were to be settled by a land run. The original settlers were rounded up and expelled. On April 22, 1889, the Oklahoma lands were settled by what would later be called the Run of '89. Over 50,000 people entered on the first day, among them several thousand freedmen and descendants of slaves. Tent cities were erected overnight at Oklahoma City, Kingfisher, El Reno, Norman, Guthrie and Stillwater, which was the first of the settlements. Federal troops provided law enforcement; the closest criminal and civil jurisdictions were the federal courts in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Despite that, the district was generally peaceful. Most land disputes were settled without bloodshed, although a few took years to resolve. The Organic Act of 1890 incorporated the Unassigned Lands into the new Oklahoma Territory. Under the act, local officials were appointed to handle civil and criminal matters until elections were held. Under the later Curtis Act of 1898, the communal lands of the Five Civilized Tribes in Indian Territory were allocated to registered heads of households, thus extinguishing tribal title. The government declared any excess lands as "surplus" and allowed sale to non-Native Americans. In 1907, Oklahoma (the full Indian Territory and former Oklahoma area) was admitted as the 46th state. References Sources Kappler, Charles (ed.) "Treaty with the Creeks, 1825". Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2:214–217 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Kappler, Charles (ed.) "Treaty with the Creeks, 1833". Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2:388–391 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Kappler, Charles (ed.) "Treaty with the Creeks, 1866". Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2:931–937 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Kappler, Charles (ed.) "Treaty with the Creeks, etc., 1833". Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2:756–763 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Kappler, Charles (ed.) "Treaty with the Seminole, 1866". Indian Affairs: Laws and Treaties. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1904. 2:910–915 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Meserve, John Bartlett. "Chief Opotheleyahola", Chronicles of Oklahoma 9:4 (December 1931) 439–453 (retrieved August 16, 2006). Former regions and territories of the United States Pre-statehood history of Oklahoma Native American history of Oklahoma