Montana Admitted to the Union
Montana was admitted to the United States as the 41st state on November 8, 1889, following the signing of the Omnibus Statehood Bill by President Grover Cleveland on February 22 of that year. This significant milestone came after a prolonged desire for statehood among Montanans, which included unsuccessful earlier attempts, such as a constitutional convention in 1884 that was disregarded by Congress. The successful path to statehood began with a new constitutional convention held in July 1889, where a government framework was developed and ratified by the populace in October.
Once statehood was achieved, the first legislative assembly faced contentious issues, particularly regarding the selection of U.S. Senators, resulting in a protracted dispute that lasted over a decade. Additionally, the choice of the state capital was hotly debated, with Helena ultimately being selected in 1894 after competing against other towns. The capital’s establishment involved significant financial investments from influential mining figures, highlighting the economic interests of the region. The construction of the statehouse began in 1896, with its dedication occurring in 1902, marking another important chapter in Montana's history as a state.
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Montana Admitted to the Union
Montana Admitted to the Union
On February 22, 1889, President Grover Cleveland signed the Omnibus Statehood Bill, which authorized the admission of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Washington, Idaho, and Wyoming into the United States. The Montana territorial government immediately completed the legal steps required by the United States Constitution, and Montana was officially proclaimed the 41st state on November 8, 1889.
The residents of the Montana Territory had desired admission to the Union for some time, but earlier efforts in the direction of statehood had been less successful. Although a constitutional convention had been held in Helena in 1884, it was ignored by the United States Congress, and came to nothing. With the enactment of the enabling legislation of February 22, 1889, however, a new constitutional convention met in Montana on July 4. By the middle of August it completed a frame of government for approval by the citizenry. On October 1 the people ratified the document by a wide margin and then chose their first state officials. Joseph K. Toole, who had served as the territory's delegate to Congress, became the first governor.
Democrats and Republicans sitting in the first legislature were unable to agree on the choice of United States Senators for the new state. Both parties attempted to appoint two of their members. The Republicans named Wilbur F. Sanders and T. C. Power, and the Democrats selected W. A. Clark and Martin Maginnis. In Washington, D.C., the Senate declared Sanders and Power the winners. This was not the end of the story, however, for the question of who should represent Montana in the Senate would continue to arouse controversy for well over a decade.
Also controversial was the choice of a state capital, with Helena emerging as the victor after several years of contention. The town became the seat of the territorial government in 1875, but in the intervening years several other communities had developed as worthy challengers to its preeminent position. Unable to agree on a site for the capital, the delegates to the constitutional convention put the issue before the voters in 1892. No town won a majority that year, but the people finally resolved the problem in 1894 by selecting Helena over its rival, Anaconda. The mining magnate W. A. Clark reportedly spent at least $500,000 in support of Helena's bid, and Marcus Daly of what later became the Anaconda Copper Mining Company spent over $2.5 million on behalf of Anaconda.
In 1895 the Montana legislature appointed a commission to select a site for the statehouse. A year later, construction began at an unpopulated location approximately one mile east of the famous Last Chance Gulch, where prospectors made a rich gold strike in 1864. The workers completed the central portion of the capitol in January 1902, and Clark was one of the orators at the dedication of the building on July 4, 1902.