If slavery built the USA in general, then how did slavery build Oklahoma in particular? When ~17 thousand Cherokee were forcefully moved from the Carolinas to the Oklahoma territory during the 1830's, they brought with them ~2 thousand enslaved Africans. However, the name Oklahoma derives from the Chocktaw words for people & red. Prior to 1889, the Sooner State was considered Indian territory, as it was off-limits to White settlement until then. Yet Oklahoma wouldn’t become the 46th state for another 18 years, until 1907. Currently ~8% of Oklahoma’s population is Black.
If slavery built the USA in general, then how did slavery build Oklahoma in particular? When ~17 thousand Cherokee were forcefully moved from the Carolinas to the Oklahoma territory during the 1830's, they brought with them ~2 thousand enslaved Africans. However, the name Oklahoma derives from the Chocktaw words for people & red. Prior to 1889, the Sooner State was considered Indian territory, as it was off-limits to White settlement until then. Yet Oklahoma wouldn’t become the 46th state for another 18 years, until 1907. Currently ~8% of Oklahoma’s population is Black.
