On July 25, 1868, the United States Congress approved the Wyoming Organic Act which created the Wyoming Territory with land from the Dakota, Utah, and Idaho territories.

[3] On September 2, 1869, the first legislature elections were held where the Democratic Party won all of the seats in the Council and House of Representatives.

[4][5] The first session of the Wyoming territorial legislature occurred from October 12, to December 10, 1869.

[5] On October 12, John H. Howe, Chief Justice of the Wyoming Supreme Court, inaugurated the twenty-one members of the territorial legislature.

On December 10, Governor John Allen Campbell signed the legislation into law.