Name ______________________________ Core _________ Date ________________________
The Story of The States
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,
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
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.
In 1776, America declared its independence
Expanding the Nation: The 19th Century
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
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
in their beliefs and their needs. Some states relied on
the nations that controlled this land.
slavery to maintain their farms; other states had long
Gradually, Americans began to move into
since replaced their farm system with a factory-based
these areas. Many of these pioneers wanted their
economy and no longer needed slavery. This division led
territories to become states. Why? States had
to conflicts that eventually caused the southern states to
representation in Congress, where laws were made. In
break away from the Union in 1861. It took a civil war to
addition, white males who lived in states could vote.
reestablish America as a single nation.
It was not easy to become a state. Congress
The 20th Century and Beyond
had to vote on whether to admit each state, and
By the end of the 19th century, the U.S. had
lawmakers argued over any controversial issues
45 states. Between 1907 and 1912, the nation added
surrounding that potential state. In 1818, for example,
Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma to the Union. All
Missouri, a territory where slavery was common, applied
three had been part of U.S. territory since the 19th
for statehood. By that time, slavery had been outlawed in
century.
the North, but it remained legal in the South. Eleven
Alaska and Hawaii were the last two states to
states were "free states," and eleven states permitted
join the Union and the only states that are not part of the
slavery. If Congress accepted Missouri as a "slave state,"
contiguous U.S. Why did the U.S. want these two areas?
it would upset this balance and anger those who opposed
Both Hawaii and Alaska have an abundance of natural
the expansion of slavery. In 1819, Maine applied for
resources. Hawaii's tropical climate made it an ideal
admission as a free state. Lawmakers agreed to allow
place to grow sugarcane, while Alaska offered oil and
both territories to become states, maintaining the balance
fish. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867,
of slave and free states. This became known as the
seeking to take advantage of these resources. The U.S.
Missouri Compromise.
forcibly took over Hawaii from its queen in 1893, after
The Missouri Compromise could not end a
years of doing business in the sugar industry. Like most
growing conflict among the states. States did not agree
of the territories before them, Alaska and Hawaii sought
on whether slavery was acceptable. Why not? The states
statehood because their growing populations wanted
were unified, but they were still fundamentally different
representation in the national government. Both of them
and have been influenced by the cultures of Native
became states in 1959.
Americans and of nations that once controlled them.
Each of the 50 states has a rich history. Some
were colonies where people fought to establish and
Every state's identity is unique, and each one
helps to shape our nation.
maintain their own rules. Others were part of territories
Dictionary
contiguous (adjective)
controversial (adjective)
touching; in contact
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?
A. The North needed farm workers and did not depend
on slaves.
B. Everyone in the North had paid servants.
C. Everyone in the North had good jobs.
D. 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?
A. The U.S. would have needed another source for
clothing and other retail products.
B. The North would have outlawed its slave system.
C. The North would have closed down its farms.
D. The U.S. would have needed another source of food
and other agricultural products.
B. We can accept Missouri into the Union to get access
to its natural resources.
C. We can accept Maine into the Union to get access to
its natural resources.
D. We can accept Maine into the Union if we also
accept a free state.
5. Which was true about both Alaska and Hawaii?
A. In both areas, the U.S. gained control by using force.
B. Both areas attracted the U.S. with their tropical
climates.
C. In both areas, the U.S. gained control by paying
money.
D. Both areas attracted the U.S. with their natural
resources.
6. A controversial issue is an issue that__________.
A. Causes disagreements
B. Is easy to settle
3. According to the section of the article called "Expanding
C. Creates harmony
the Nation: The 19th Century," why did people who moved
D. Is hard to understand
into the new western territories want their areas to become
states?
7. Which of these is a synonym for the word unified?
A. Successful
A. They thought that being a state would attract more
tourists.
B. They knew that they would have to pay less in taxes.
C. They knew that they would have a voice in the
government.
D. 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?
A. We can accept Missouri into the Union if we also
accept a free state.
B. Fighting
C. Revealed
D. Joined
8. The article suggests that the U.S. wanted Hawaii because
__________.
A. The U.S. wanted more control over the sugar
industry.
B. The U.S. wanted more control over the tourist
industry.
C. The U.S. wanted a vacation spot near the ocean.
D. 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)