The South Dakota Statehood Movement

South Dakota achieved statehood in 1889, following a nearly three-decade period in territorial status. From the beginning of the statehood movement, Yankton served as the driving force. The power of this force emanated from Yankton’s premier trade and political role within the Territory. Both because of the economic boost from its railroad, and despite the legal problems spawned by the railroad, Yankton served as the statehood leader. But the railroad dispute had indeed exerted a significant influence on the statehood movement. The bondholders had used their political influence to convince Congress that Yankton in particular and Dakota in general lacked the “character” of statehood. Consequently, under this threat of a denied statehood, Yankton quickly acquiesced to all the demands of the bondholders. But this acquiescence came too late. When the Democratic Party took control of the House of Representatives and the Presidency, statehood for South Dakota became a political impossibility as the Democrats were not inclined to admit new states that would vote Republican.