Oklahoma History In most cases, territories that want to become states are divided out by the Government. In exceptions like Oklahoma territory where the land was auctioned off and sealed bids, land runs gave the land to settlers. The other half was Indian territory, so it wanted to be a separate state. White men wanted both territories that they had the government take the land away from the Indians. The land that was to become Oklahoma was shaped by broken promises, discouraged and displaced person, and people who needed a new start. Oklahoma was shaped by broken promises. When the Five Civilized Tribes we