| Idaho Territory |
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Idaho Territory was an Organized Territory of the United States which existed from 1863 to 1890. 1860S The territory was officially organized on March 4 , 1863 by Act of Congress , and signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln . It was created by areas from existing territories; the area west of the Continental Divide was formerly part of the Oregon Territory and Washington Territory , whereas most of the area east of the Continental Divide had been part of the Dakota Territory . The original territory covered most of the present-day states of Idaho , Montana and Wyoming . The first territorial capital was at Lewiston . Boise was the territorial capital from 1865. Although the 1863 Bear River Massacre in present-day Franklin County is considered to be the westernmost battle of the Civil War , the upheaval caused by the Civil War and Reconstruction was a distant concern to those in the comparatively stable Idaho Territory, a situation which in turn encouraged settlement. In 1864, the Montana Territory was organized from the northeastern section of the territory east of the Bitteroot Range . Most of the southeastern area of the territory was made part of the Dakota Territory . In the late 1860s Idaho Territory became a destination for displaced Southern Democrats who fought for the Confederate States Of America during the Civil War. These people were well-represented in the early territorial legislatures, which often clashed with the appointed Republican territorial governors. The political infighting became particularly vicious in 1867 , when Governor David W. Ballard asked for protection from federal troops stationed at Fort Boise against the territorial legislature. By 1870 , however, the political infighting died down considerably. In 1868, the areas east of the 111th Meridian were made part of the newly created Wyoming Territory . Idaho Territory assumed the boundaries of the modern state at that time. The discovery of gold, silver and other valuable natural resources throughout Idaho beginning in the 1860s, as well as the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869 , brought many new people to the territory, including Chinese laborers who came to work the mines. As Idaho approached statehood, Mining and other extractive industries became increasingly important to its economy. By the 1890s , for example, Idaho exported more Lead than any other state. 1870S |
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