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Class Date: December 3rd
Location: Your couch! See your weekly e-mail for Zoom link!
Black Gold and a Reign of Terror
Black Gold and a Reign of Terror
This week we are looking at what is now called the "Reign of Terror” among the Osage people. Before we talk about these events, let’s review some background events of the time:
1789 - United States Marshals are created
The new U.S. Congress created the first Federal law enforcement officers in the Marshals as part of the first Judiciary Act. President George Washington appointed the first 13 Marshals to act as the nation’s law keepers.
1803 - Louisiana Purchase
President Thomas Jefferson completes the Louisiana Purchase from the French, doubling the size of the United States. The treaty was vague and Jefferson and others weren’t quite sure if the Constitution allowed him to make such a purchase, but Congress eventually ratified the treaty and the sale.
1805 - Lewis and Clark reach the Pacific
After 2 years of struggling across harsh and unforgiving terrain, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached the Pacific coast near present-day Astoria, Oregon. Along the way, the group swelled with ranks with Shoshone-born Sacagawea, who joined the expedition with her husband, a French-Canadian fur trapper. Though pregnant, Sacagawea traveled with the group and interpreted when necessary. Her son, whom she named Jean Baptiste, was born along the way before they reached the Pacific.
1830 - Indian Removal Act
President Andrew Jackson signed the Act to move Native Americans off their land and west. It was the first major departure from recognizing the sovereignty of Native peoples by the United States government. The Act allowed the government to remove Native people and put them on lands further west that white men did not want to settle. A number of routes for removal were established, but the forced resettlement is collectively known as the Trail of Tears. The tribes in the Southeastern United States were particularly reluctant to be removed from their established farms, homes, schools, and trade. Known as the ‘Five Civilized Tribes’, the Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole, Cherokee, and Creek refused to leave and were forcibly removed. The Cherokee removal is most often associated with the Trail of Tears, and as many as 25% of the roughly 100,000 people who were forcibly marched west perished along the way.
For a 26 minute overview of the Trail of Tears, click here.
1841 - The Oregon Trail begins
The ‘Oregon Trail’, a roughly 2,000 mile path from Independence, Missouri to Oregon City, Oregon, becomes an established route for people seeking to settle the West. The first primary travelers were often Christian missionaries, seeking to spread their religion to Native tribes out West. Missionary Marcus Whitman first traversed the route in 1835 to prove it could be traveled safely. After he married, he traversed it again to show that men and women could travel west.
1843 - The ‘Great Migration’ begins west
Though the Oregon territory would not be officially established until 1846, Americans began flocking west. In 1843, approximately 1,000 migrants gathered to head West to Oregon. To read more about this massive migration, click here: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/a-thousand-pioneers-head-west-on-the-oregon-trail
1869 - Transcontinental Railroad completed
Constructed from 1863 - 1869, the railroad became the first continuous railroad line across the United States.
To watch a 6-minute CBS special on the steam locomotive rebuilt to celebrate the centennial of the Transcontinental Railroad, click here:
To watch a longer, more detailed story of the Transcontinental Railroad, check out the History Channel episode of ‘America: The Story of Us - The Transcontinental Railroad Unites’ here.
1833 - Creek removed from their ancestral lands
Creek bands are removed from their ancestral lands in Georgia and Alabama and sent to the Oklahoma territory. Creek band, known as the Lochapoka, negotiate with the nearby Cherokee bands and settle in the area that will become Tulsa. Many Creek turned to cattle raising.
1870 - John D. Rockefeller incorporates Standard Oil
Rockefeller utilized the idea of horizontal integration, meaning his company controlled the manufacture and processing of almost all oil production, processing, marketing, and transportation. At one point, Standard Oil controlled 90% of the nation’s refineries and pipelines. They even built their own oil barrels as a company. This consolidation and control helped kickstart industrialization and the Gilded Age.
To see an 11 minute overview of John D. Rockefeller and his life, check out this video here.
1882 - Railroads arrive in Oklahoma
St. Louis and San Francisco Railroads arrive in the area. Soon after, a store opened in the area to support the railroad. By 1890, roughly 1,000 people lived in the Tulsa area. Tulsa was incorporated as a town in 1898.
1883 - Civil Rights Cases
5 legal cases were combined by the Supreme Court (due to their similarity). The Court ruled that the Civil Rights Act of 1875 was unconstitutional. The Court held that the 13th and 14th Amendments did not allow Congress to outlaw racial discrimination by private individuals. Effectively, this ruling gave Congress very little power to legislate against segregation. It paved the way for decades of Jim Crow laws and inequality.
1887 - Dawes Severalty Act
In an attempt to assimilate indigenous people and make resistance to reservations more difficult, the US government enacted the Dawes Severalty Act, breaking up Native reservations and distributing land to individual households. Any leftover land was sold for money for the U.S. government. Of the 130 million acres of Native reservations before the act, 90 million acres were sold to non-native buyers. The Act emphasised individual land ownership, rather than allowing tribal members to continue to practice unity, self-government, and honoring their culture of shared resources.
1902-1904 - Ida Tarbell published “The History of the Standard Oil Company”
Ida Tarbell was a famed investigative journalist, known as a ‘muckraker’, who often wrote about unethical business practices. She studied John D. Rockefeller and his creation of Standard Oil Company for years before publishing about the aggressive techniques he employed to create a giant monopoly. McClure’s Magazine published the work in 19 installments and it caught national attention.
1905 - Major oil field discovered
Oil is discovered at Glenpool, just outside of Tulsa. At the time, it was the world’s largest oil field. Community leaders in Tulsa encourage prospectors and workers to stay in the city. Tulsa expanded rapidly, and by 1909, there were 126 oil companies in Tulsa. It became the “oil capital of the world” and a respected financial center.
Development happened under the shroud of legalized racism and segregation. The first defining state laws passed segregated rail cars and street cars. Dozen of lynchings were carried out between 1907 and 1930 as a form or racial terrorism.
That is where our timeline leaves us for this week! Check below for additional reading resources and check your e-mail for a link to this week’s lecture!
Recommended Reading
Recommended Reading
To read more about this period, here are some great books to get you started:
For kids:
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI - Young Readers Edition by David Grann
The New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist Killers of the Flower Moon is now adapted for young readers. This book is an essential resource for young readers to learn about the Reign of Terror against the Osage people--one of history's most ruthless and shocking crimes.
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma, thanks to the oil that was discovered beneath their land. Then, one by one, the Osage began to die under mysterious circumstances, and anyone who tried to investigate met the same end.
As the death toll surpassed more than twenty-four Osage, the newly created Bureau of Investigation, which became the FBI, took up the case, one of the organization's first major homicide investigations. An undercover team, including one of the only Native American agents in the bureau, infiltrated the region, struggling to adopt the latest modern techniques of detection. Working with the Osage, they began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.
In this adaptation of the adult bestseller, David Grann revisits his gripping investigation into the shocking crimes against the Osage people. The book is a searing indictment of the callousness and prejudice toward Native Americans that allowed the murderers to occur for so long.
History and Culture of the Osage for kids: A fun and educational journey through the culture of the Osage Indians by Pedro Joseph
Ever Wondered Who the Osage People Are?
Have you ever seen a cool documentary and wished you knew more? This book is your adventure into the amazing world of the Osage Nation!
Is history boring? Not a chance! This book is packed with fun facts, stories, and pictures that will take you on a journey alongside the Osage people.
Uh oh! Is learning difficult? Not with this book! We'll break down everything you need to know in a way that's easy to understand.
Facing a challenge understanding something in school? This book can be your secret weapon! Learn about Osage culture, from their deep connection to the land to their impressive rise as a powerful tribe.
Worried it's just about old stuff? Think again! This book is like a 2024 documentary, bringing the Osage story to life, from their ancestral lands to Oklahoma, Tahlequah, Otoe, and even the Dust Bowl!
But here's the exciting part: This isn't just a story of the past. The Osage Nation is thriving today, and you'll get to see how they're keeping their traditions alive for future generations.
For adults:
BOOK RECOMMENDATION - Historical fiction
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, the Osage rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions, and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off. The family of an Osage woman, Mollie Burkhart, became a prime target. One of her relatives was shot. Another was poisoned. And it was just the beginning, as more and more Osage were dying under mysterious circumstances, and many of those who dared to investigate the killings were themselves murdered.
As the death toll rose, the newly created FBI took up the case, and the young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to try to unravel the mystery. White put together an undercover team, including a Native American agent who infiltrated the region, and together with the Osage began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.
History of the Osage Indian Murders: A True Crime Story an Insight on this Reign of Terror by Marvin E. Thomas
History of the Osage Indian Murders: A True Crime Story an Insight on this Reign of Terror by Marvin E. Thomas
Have you ever heard of the "Reign of Terror" that nearly wiped out a whole nation for their wealth? History of the Osage Indian Murders uncovers a chilling true-crime tale that will leave you questioning everything you thought you knew about greed, corruption, and survival.
In the 1920s, the Osage people were the richest per capita on Earth, thanks to their land sitting atop vast oil reserves. But with great wealth came unimaginable betrayal. White settlers, using a corrupt guardianship system, plotted to murder the Osage and steal their fortunes. This horrifying "Reign of Terror" lasted for years, with dozens of Osage men and women murdered under mysterious circumstances. Yet, the killers walked free, and the Osage struggled to be heard.
In this explosive, eye-opening book, you’ll be taken deep into the heart of this dark conspiracy. Feel the tension as the Osage fight for justice in the face of overwhelming corruption. Discover the untold stories of murder, conspiracy, and betrayal that were buried for decades. Get an inside look at how one of the first major investigations by the FBI exposed the shocking truth behind these brutal killings. You won’t be able to put it down.
The Osage Nation’s fight for justice isn’t just a story of the past—it’s a story that demands to be remembered. Buy History of the Osage Indian Murders now and uncover the truth that the world tried to hide. Don’t miss your chance to read this gripping true-crime masterpiece. Grab your copy today!
Works Cited
Works Cited
https://www.timetoast.com/timelines/top-10-events-of-the-gilded-age
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part1/1p284.html
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/thirteenth-amendment#section_5
https://www.nps.gov/saga/learn/education/upload/african%20american%20history%20timeline.pdf
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-milestones
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