50 just seems like a nice round number and I was curious if anyone could answer this.
2007-07-15 08:44:05 · 10 answers · asked by R E 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
It wasn't planed or foreseen. Here's a breakdown of the chief territories annexed by the US, and the states that now occupy them:
Original colonies: NH, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA, NC, SC, GA
NW Ordinance: OH, IN, IL, WI, MI
Louisiana Purchase: LA, AR, MO, OK, KS, NE, IA, MN, CO, MT, WY, ND, SD
Treaty of Hidalgo, 1848: TX, NM, AZ, NV, UT, CA
Oregon Territory: ID, WA, OR
WV broke from VA, and joined the Union during the Civil War, 1863.
ME gained independence from MA, 1820
FL purchased from Spain, 1819
HI and AK admitted in 1959 and 1960, respectively.
2007-07-15 09:30:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
no, the number to round it up was not planned.
alaska was purchased from russia for just 2 million dollars.
united states were 48, became 50 only after the inclusion of alaska and hawaii. the well defined territories do seem well planned.
2007-07-15 15:50:29 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Arnold Lane has a good answer....basically, anywhere can petition Congress to become a State..Puerto Rico, The US Virgin Islands, Samoa, Guam, even Ontario or Iraq!.....a majority of the population votes for statehood, it goes to Congress which accepts and we add another star.....
2007-07-16 10:54:48 · answer #3 · answered by yankee_sailor 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, it just happened. We started with much less, and kept adding on as the westward expansion happened. Then we were stuck at 48 for a long time, until Hawaii & Alaska were added.
Many people think Puerto Rico should be added, since it's an "American Territory".
2007-07-15 15:52:35 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
States are added by an act of Congress. They first must become territories, then vote (by referendum, I believe) for statehood, then be officially accepted as states by Congress.
There *are* territories which may yet become states (like Puerto Rico, as someone mentioned). Puerto Rico politicians currently seem to have better luck being re-elected if they oppose statehood.
See the list of U.S. territories here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Territories_of_the_United_States#Classification_of_current_U.S._territories
Jim, http://www.jimpettis.com/wheel/
2007-07-15 19:16:41 · answer #5 · answered by JimPettis 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they did not round the nuber 50 they started with 13 then they got more and more land and they got 47 then vigina split in two an alaska and hawwai got in
2007-07-15 15:51:34 · answer #6 · answered by Chandra P 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Uhhhhhhh, lemme seee. We already had 50 stars on the flag and had to get enough states to match? Are you 6 years old or just an idiot? Read a history book you mowron.
2007-07-15 16:02:56 · answer #7 · answered by sunshine_sera 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Well, from the beginning, they knew that there would be 49 states. Once it was apparent that Cuba would not be #50, they split Virginia in two.
Wasn't that amazing foresight?
To the twits that gave me a thumbs down, did you think I was serious? Get a life.
2007-07-15 15:47:56 · answer #8 · answered by gebobs 6 · 0⤊ 4⤋
I thought there were 52 states. But what do I know? I am from Ontario, Canada!!!
2007-07-15 15:53:01 · answer #9 · answered by bin there dun that 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
i dont think it was planned but yeah it is kinda interesting how it ends up to be such a number ..but i did hear that virginia was split in two to make 50 so i guess in a way it was planned
2007-07-15 15:52:15 · answer #10 · answered by BrOokLyN 4 · 0⤊ 4⤋