Answer to Question #164116 in History for Kaylee Alvarado

Question

What was the first bill in the new state legislature after Oklahoma achieved statehood?

Answer 1

HISTORY- Q164116

Even though Oklahoma and Indian Territories had large populations to be admitted as independent states, Congress insisted that statehood would be given to the territories only as a single, combined state. As a result, delegates representing the voters of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories met in Oklahoma City for a joint statehood convention. They made public their reasons for statehood and wrote a petition to Congress that was conferred on March 7, 1906 and ordered printed. RG 233, Records of the U.S. House of Representatives Engrossed hour 12707, an act to change the individuals of the Indian and Oklahoma Territories to form a state constitution and State government.

The first bill was passed by the United States of America in the Senate and House Representatives. That the inhabitants of all that part of the region of the United States which now constitutes the Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory, as defined at present, may, as provided below, adopt a constitution and become the State of Oklahoma: On June 16, 1906, after months of political wrangling, Congress finally passed an act enabling the individuals of the Indian and American state Territories to create a state constitution and authorities and to be admitted into the Union on equal footing with the present states.