Why do so many Americans think there are 52 states?

Question

I was just reading answers to another question about the U.S. flag and was surprised by how many people confidently stated there were 52 states in the USA. Is our education system this far in the toilet??

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/?qid=20060717080920AAMgy77&r=w&pa=FZptHWf.BGRX3OFMhDdUVZhf1dhn9XL78WOSsb69tvWlnncogg--#NbUvWzG4VzUvfouMGDZS

Correction. Two people thought there were 52, one said "39 or 49" and one said "It think its 50 or so, there is one for each state, might be more, how many states are there? " Is that better?

Answer 1

While I am also surprised at the number of Americans who don't know their own country's historical information and minor trivia, I did go to the site you listed for the original question. Something to consider: I'm in the USA but remember not everyone on this Yahoo Answers site is in the USA. Perhaps the person who wrote "39 or49" is not American??? At least I hope so. I can understand why someone from another country wouldn't know how many US states there are.

Answer 2

I think it might have something to do with that many Americans were brought up knowing that the US has 50 states and then told Alaska and Hawaii are also states. To them, that means 50 states plus 2 which equals 52. I know how many states there are, but to be honest I couldn't tell you which states are where. I am really great in math, reading, english, etc, but my history is horrible. I think our education is really, really lacking, but until the president and those just below see this, we will stay where we are and continue to go down. Oh, on top of that, my 3 year old knows where Iraq and the war is, but couldn't find our state on the map- what does that tell you?

Answer 3

Probably because of the U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam. We are taught that they have almost all the rights the U.S. has with very few exceptions. Like when ordering from a lot of catalogs or on-line ordering it will say can only ship to the lower 48 states plus Puerto Rico.

Answer 4

A lot of people include Guam, Puerto Rico, the Somoan Islands, Virgin Islands---take your pick--as states and these are U.S. territories we established after the Spanish American War in 1898. The people from these places are considered U.S. citizens, because we have political and economic interests.

Answer 5

LOL im going into 9th grade and alot of people thought their was either 52 or 51 states..... Most people either count Washington DC as a state.... So they count 51.... or they say their is 50 states + alaska and hawii..... LOL people their is only 50 states.... If you dont know that then go back to 1st grade....

Answer 6

Because there are 52 playing cards and they can't remember which one is 52 and which is 50.

Answer 7

there thinking 50 plus hawaii and alaska = 52
when its 48 plus hawaii and alaska = 50
there are 52 cards in a deck of playing cards and they get
confused. some also think puerto rico and jamaca are states.

Answer 8

i looked at your reference question... only 2 of 24 answerers said there were 52 stars on the US flag. so i think your hysteria is quite unwarranted :).

Answer 9

It's not only in the toilet, but the toilets' been flushed, there's no paper, and we're sh*t out of luck. Maybe they think the other 2 states are states of mind.............

Answer 10

25% of college students couldn't recgonize the US on a World map. I'd say it might be in the toilet.