Who were the first settlers in Oklahoma?

The correct answer highlights the complexity of Oklahoma's settlement history, which involved both European Americans and Native Americans, particularly during the Land Runs of the late 19th century.

The Land Runs, starting in 1889, were significant events where thousands of settlers rushed into previously unassigned lands, claiming their plots for farming and settlement. While European Americans joined in large numbers during this era, it’s essential to recognize that Native American tribes, including the Cherokee, had lived in these areas long before the Land Runs. These tribes had their own histories, cultures, and connections to the land, significantly shaping the region long before European settlement intensified.

In 1830, the Indian Removal Act forced many Native Americans from their ancestral lands in the southeastern U.S. to Indian Territory, present-day Oklahoma. They established communities and continued to influence the area up until the Land Runs and beyond, as their rights and claims were often disregarded during the process.

This rich interaction between the Native Americans who were already there and the European settlers who came later reflects a more intricate narrative of settlement rather than a singular arrival of one group alone. Hence, the co-participation in settlement during pivotal moments like the Land Runs underlines the collaborative, yet often contentious,