Link to the original video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RzEZYsFOpc
I'll write a comprehensive essay on how the US states came to be.
The Formation of the United States: From Colonies to 50 States
The story of how the United States grew from thirteen colonies to fifty states spans nearly two centuries and reflects the nation's territorial expansion, political evolution, and cultural development.
The original thirteen colonies, established along the Atlantic coast between the 17th and 18th centuries, formed the foundation of the United States after declaring independence from Great Britain in 1776. These colonies - Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island - became the first U.S. states upon ratification of the Constitution.
The nation's expansion westward began with the Northwest Territory, established by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This legislation set a precedent for how new states would be admitted to the Union, requiring territories to meet population thresholds and establish functioning governments. The first state admitted under this system was Vermont in 1791, followed by Kentucky in 1792 and Tennessee in 1796.
The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 dramatically expanded the nation's territory, adding approximately 828,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River. This massive acquisition eventually led to the creation of fifteen new states, from Louisiana (1812) to Montana (1889). The process of organizing and settling these territories took nearly a century, with each region developing its own distinct identity and economy before achieving statehood.
The acquisition of Florida from Spain in 1821 and the annexation of Texas in 1845 further expanded U.S. territory. The Oregon Treaty of 1846 with Great Britain and the Mexican Cession of 1848 following the Mexican-American War added the Pacific Coast and Southwest regions to the nation, setting the stage for states like California (1850) and Oregon (1859).
The mid-19th century saw the admission of several states during a period of intense national division over slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 allowed new states to decide the slavery question through "popular sovereignty," leading to violent conflicts in Kansas Territory. This period highlighted how the admission of new states was intrinsically linked to national political tensions.
Following the Civil War, the admission of new states continued steadily through the late 19th century. The Dakotas, Montana, and Washington all joined the Union in 1889, followed by Idaho and Wyoming in 1890. Utah achieved statehood in 1896 after abandoning the practice of polygamy, which had delayed its admission.
The last continental states to join were Oklahoma (1907), New Mexico, and Arizona (both 1912). Alaska and Hawaii, having been territories since the late 19th century, completed the current roster of fifty states when they were admitted in 1959. Their admission reflected the nation's expanding global influence and the integration of non-contiguous territories into the federal system.
The process of state formation reveals several consistent patterns in American history. New states typically began as territories under federal control, developed their own political institutions and economies, and demonstrated their readiness for self-governance before admission. Population growth, economic development, and political considerations all played crucial roles in determining when territories would become states.
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