The Problem with Unincorporated Territories

The United States has had at least 40 territories over the past few hundred years. Like the Oklahoma Territory or the Louisiana Territory, lands owned by the U.S. but not… Read more »

How Kentucky Became a State

As we think about the process of becoming a state for Puerto Rico, we like to look back and see how the current 50 states gained statehood. The process wasn’t… Read more »

5 Good Changes Statehood Will Make in Your Life

U.S. and Puerto Rico flags, by Arturo de la Barrera on Flickr

If you live in Puerto Rico, statehood offers some real advantages: You will have a voice. Right now, Puerto Rico has one representative in Congress, and he can vote only… Read more »

Tennessee and the Tennessee Plan

After North Carolina joined the other future states during the American Revolution, it gave up its territory west of the Appalachian mountains to the new American government. Those lands became… Read more »

Statehood for Ohio

Ohio was the second territory admitted to the Union — or was it? After the first thirteen original states ratified the U.S. Constitution, Vermont, an area claimed by the State… Read more »