In what year was Oklahoma claimed for France?

The year 1682 is significant in the context of Oklahoma's history because it marks the moment when French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, claimed the region for France. During his explorations, La Salle traveled down the Mississippi River and reached its mouth, claiming all the lands drained by the river and its tributaries for France in the name of King Louis XIV. This claim encompassed a vast territory, including parts of what is now Oklahoma.

La Salle's claim was a critical moment in the colonial history of North America, establishing French interests in the region that would shape the cultural and political landscape over the years. The influence of French exploration laid the groundwork for future interactions with Native American tribes and the eventual establishment of French trading posts and settlements in the broader Mississippi River Valley, of which Oklahoma was a part.