Today in History November 8th

1889 – Montana is admitted as the 41st U.S. state.

Montanans held a constitutional convention in 1866 under Territorial Governor Thomas Meagher, but it failed to achieve statehood. A second convention in Helena in 1884 resulted in a constitution that was ratified 3:1 by Montana citizens in November 1884. However, due to political reasons, Congress delayed the approval of Montana statehood until February 1889. President Grover Cleveland signed an omnibus bill granting statehood to Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington once the necessary state constitutions were drafted. In July 1889, Montanans convened their third constitutional convention and produced a constitution that was accepted by both the people and the federal government. On November 8, 1889, President Benjamin Harrison proclaimed Montana the 41st state of the Union. Joseph K. Toole became the first governor of Montana.