The United States became a nation on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which announced the separation of the 13 British colonies in North America from Great Britain. However, the process of becoming individual states within the United States was a gradual one.
The first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution and become part of the United States was Delaware, on December 7, 1787. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut followed in quick succession. By May 1790, all thirteen original states had ratified the U.S. Constitution and became part of the United States.
Over the years, the United States has grown and expanded through the addition of new states. The Louisiana Purchase of 1803 added a vast amount of territory to the United States, which eventually became several new states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, and Nebraska. In 1846, the United States acquired California and other territories from Mexico, which eventually became new states such as California and Nevada.
In the 20th century, the United States continued to add new states. Alaska and Hawaii became the 49th and 50th states, respectively, in 1959. Since then, no new states have been added to the United States.
Today, the United States is composed of 50 states, each with its own unique history, culture, and economy. The process of becoming a state is governed by the U.S. Constitution, which sets out the requirements for admitting new states to the union.
Each state has its own unique history and cultural identity, and the process of becoming a state was influenced by a variety of factors, including geography, politics, and economics. The addition of new states to the United States has played a significant role in shaping the nation’s history and identity.
List of when each state joined the United States:
- Delaware – December 7, 1787
- Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787
- New Jersey – December 18, 1787
- Georgia – January 2, 1788
- Connecticut – January 9, 1788
- Massachusetts – February 6, 1788
- Maryland – April 28, 1788
- South Carolina – May 23, 1788
- New Hampshire – June 21, 1788
- Virginia – June 25, 1788
- New York – July 26, 1788
- North Carolina – November 21, 1789
- Rhode Island – May 29, 1790
- Vermont – March 4, 1791
- Kentucky – June 1, 1792
- Tennessee – June 1, 1796
- Ohio – March 1, 1803
- Louisiana – April 30, 1812
- Indiana – December 11, 1816
- Mississippi – December 10, 1817
- Illinois – December 3, 1818
- Alabama – December 14, 1819
- Maine – March 15, 1820
- Missouri – August 10, 1821
- Arkansas – June 15, 1836
- Michigan – January 26, 1837
- Florida – March 3, 1845
- Texas – December 29, 1845
- Iowa – December 28, 1846
- Wisconsin – May 29, 1848
- California – September 9, 1850
- Minnesota – May 11, 1858
- Oregon – February 14, 1859
- Kansas – January 29, 1861
- West Virginia – June 20, 1863
- Nevada – October 31, 1864
- Nebraska – March 1, 1867
- Colorado – August 1, 1876
- North Dakota – November 2, 1889
- South Dakota – November 2, 1889
- Montana – November 8, 1889
- Washington – November 11, 1889
- Idaho – July 3, 1890
- Wyoming – July 10, 1890
- Utah – January 4, 1896
- Oklahoma – November 16, 1907
- New Mexico – January 6, 1912
- Arizona – February 14, 1912
- Alaska – January 3, 1959
- Hawaii – August 21, 1959