Name ______Core ______Date ______

The Story of The States

When the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain, the 13 colonies became 13 states. Read on to learn more about how a nation of 13 states grew into a nation of 50 states.

A New Nation: The 18th Century

In 1776, America declared its independence from Great Britain. The 13 colonies, their leaders decided, would become the United States. They would exist under a federal government but would maintain their own state governments, as well. The decision to keep the states separated reflected a fact that is still true today—Americans identify as much with their own states as they do with the entire nation.

At the time, many Americans wanted the new federal government to be weaker than the state governments. They were concerned that if the federal government could tax the people or set trade laws, it

would become too powerful. After years of fighting against the British king, they did not want the U.S. to have a powerful national ruler.

Because of these sentiments, the federal government did not have much authority in its early years. This changed, however, as states realized that the

federal government needed to make money. To do this, the government would have to be powerful enough to collect taxes and make trade laws.

The states agreed to draw up a new constitution. The new document gave the federal government more power. The states, however, retained their individual governments and their own identities.

Expanding the Nation: The 19th Century

Between 1790 and 1900, the U.S. expanded into the West. Adding new states extended America's reach for trade and exploration purposes. It also caused clashes among the existing states and questions about the ideals that America wanted to follow.

In order to grow, the U.S. had to add new land to its holdings. In 1803, the government purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, nearly doubling the size of the U.S. Between 1819 and 1853, the U.S. added Florida, Texas, and many of the western territories by making financial deals or by fighting bloody battles with the nations that controlled this land.

Gradually, Americans began to move into these areas. Many of these pioneers wanted their territories to become states. Why? States had representation in Congress, where laws were made. In addition, white males who lived in states could vote.

It was not easy to become a state. Congress had to vote on whether to admit each state, and lawmakers argued over any controversial issues surrounding that potential state. In 1818, for example, Missouri, a territory where slavery was common, applied for statehood. By that time, slavery had been outlawed in the North, but it remained legal in the South. Eleven states were "free states," and eleven states permitted slavery. If Congress accepted Missouri as a "slave state," it would upset this balance and anger those who opposed the expansion of slavery. In 1819, Maine applied for admission as a free state. Lawmakers agreed to allow both territories to become states, maintaining the balance of slave and free states. This became known as the Missouri Compromise.

The Missouri Compromise could not end a growing conflict among the states. States did not agree on whether slavery was acceptable. Why not? The states were unified, but they were still fundamentally different in their beliefs and their needs. Some states relied on slavery to maintain their farms; other states had long since replaced their farm system with a factory-based economy and no longer needed slavery. This division led to conflicts that eventually caused the southern states to break away from the Union in 1861. It took a civil war to reestablish America as a single nation.

The 20th Century and Beyond

By the end of the 19th century, the U.S. had 45 states. Between 1907 and 1912, the nation added Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to the Union. All three had been part of U.S. territory since the 19th century.

Alaska and Hawaii were the last two states to join the Union and the only states that are not part of the contiguous U.S. Why did the U.S. want these two areas? Both Hawaii and Alaska have an abundance of natural resources. Hawaii's tropical climate made it an ideal place to grow sugarcane, while Alaska offered oil and fish. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867, seeking to take advantage of these resources. The U.S. forcibly took over Hawaii from its queen in 1893, after years of doing business in the sugar industry. Like most of the territories before them, Alaska and Hawaii sought statehood because their growing populations wanted representation in the national government. Both of them became states in 1959.

Each of the 50 states has a rich history. Some were colonies where people fought to establish and maintain their own rules. Others were part of territories and have been influenced by the cultures of Native Americans and of nations that once controlled them.

Every state's identity is unique, and each one helps to shape our nation.

Dictionary

contiguous(adjective)touching; in contact
controversial(adjective)causing disagreement or debate
economy(noun)the wealth or financial condition of a place, like a country or a state
potential(adjective)possible
unify(verb)to bring together

Multiple Choice: Circle the letter of the choice the best completes the statement. (2 points each)

1. During the 19th century, the northern U.S. outlawed slavery. According to the article, what was true about the North that enabled it to outlaw slavery?

  1. The North needed farm workers and did not depend on slaves.
  2. Everyone in the North had paid servants.
  3. Everyone in the North had good jobs.
  4. The North needed factory workers and did not depend on slaves.

2. If the South had built factories and closed down its farms, which statement would have been true?

  1. The U.S. would have needed another source for clothing and other retail products.
  2. The North would have outlawed its slave system.
  3. The North would have closed down its farms.
  4. The U.S. would have needed another source of food and other agricultural products.

3. According to the section of the article called "Expanding the Nation: The 19th Century," why did people who moved into the new western territories want their areas to become states?

  1. They thought that being a state would attract more tourists.
  2. They knew that they would have to pay less in taxes.
  3. They knew that they would have a voice in the government.
  4. They thought that being a state would attract more settlers.

4. Which of these statements summarizes the viewpoint of someone who supported the Missouri Compromise?

  1. We can accept Missouri into the Union if we also accept a free state.
  2. We can accept Missouri into the Union to get access to its natural resources.
  3. We can accept Maine into the Union to get access to its natural resources.
  4. We can accept Maine into the Union if we also accept a free state.

5. Which was true about both Alaska and Hawaii?

  1. In both areas, the U.S. gained control by using force.
  2. Both areas attracted the U.S. with their tropical climates.
  3. In both areas, the U.S. gained control by paying money.
  4. Both areas attracted the U.S. with their natural resources.

6. A controversial issue is an issue that______.

  1. Causes disagreements
  2. Is easy to settle
  3. Creates harmony
  4. Is hard to understand

7. Which of these is a synonym for the word unified?

  1. Successful
  2. Fighting
  3. Revealed
  4. Joined

8. The article suggests that the U.S. wanted Hawaii because ______.

  1. The U.S. wanted more control over the sugar industry.
  2. The U.S. wanted more control over the tourist industry.
  3. The U.S. wanted a vacation spot near the ocean.
  4. The U.S. wanted a military base near the ocean.

Opinion Question: Now that you have read the article, indicate in the space below whether you agree or disagree with this statement. What do you think makes your state important to the rest of the country? (5 points)

Thought Question:Imagine that you are an employee for your state's Department of Tourism. You are asked to create a poster to convince tourists to visit your state. What would you write on the poster? How would you illustrate it? (5 points)