[1] The Thomas-Rogers Act was adopted in order to enable Native American tribes in Oklahoma to rebuild governments that had been dissolved in order to prepare the territories for Oklahoma being admitted as a state in the Union in 1907.

In addition, the disruption of their societies and cultures resulted in considerable breakdown of their worlds.

As issues arose, Department of Interior officials sought the opinion of its Solicitor General about the effects of this legislation.

As the Five Civilized Tribes began to reorganize and set up new governments, the question arose as to whether they could change their membership rules, specifically, to exclude the Freedmen.

Freedmen descendants have filed suit against the Cherokee and Creek tribes over such exclusion.