State of the Union (41st-50th) Quiz

Answer: Montana

Before the formation of a territorial government, the region that would one day become Montana saw an influx of immigrants due to the discovery of gold, silver and other ores in the 1850s and 1860s. Subsequently, the Montana Territory was cobbled together from parts of the Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Dakota Territories in 1864, with its first capital at Bannack. That moved to Virginia City a year later, then finally settled in Helena in 1875.

An initial attempt at statehood failed in 1866, then was successfully put forward in 1884. Politics in Washington, D.C. resulted in a delay, but Congress eventually approved Montana's application in 1889, and Montana became the 41st state on November 8th.

Answer: Washington

The establishment of the Washington Territory started with the Oregon Treaty of 1846 after the border between the United States and British North America (Canada) was agreed upon at the 49th parallel. But it was still the Oregon Territory at that point. With increased immigration north of the Columbia River, however, came a call for a new territory, and in 1853, the Washington Territory was created. It was larger than present-day Washington state at the time, but the establishment of the Idaho Territory in 1863 set the eastern border. Part of the original territory also became part of Montana.

A state constitution was drafted in 1874, but was never approved by Congress. Finally, in 1889, with a new constitution in hand, Washington was granted statehood, effective November 11th, becoming the 42nd state, just three days after Montana.

Answer: Idaho

Similar to Oregon and Washington states, the land that would become Idaho's territory was only confirmed as American with the border settlement of the Oregon Treaty (1846), but Idaho as its own Territory was not established until 1863. When it was created, the Idaho Territory included some of what is present-day Montana and Wyoming.

In 1866, the territorial capital moved from Lewiston to Boise (after the creation of the Montana Territory took a large chunk of land). Idaho survived an attempt by the federal government to split the Idaho Territory between Nevada (a state since 1864) and Washington (1889), and finally received statehood in July of 1890.

Answer: Wyoming

One of the features of Wyoming, of course, is Yellowstone National Park. Early descriptions of the region (1807, by members of the Lewis & Clark Expedition) were discounted as tall tales, and even when these observations were confirmed by others in subsequent visits by others, it wasn't until government-sponsored expeditions began that legitimacy was given to those earlier reports.

The allure of Yellowstone, coupled with the completion of the railroad to Cheyenne, brought an influx of people to the region, and in 1868, Wyoming was established as a Territory. A few short years later in 1872, Yellowstone was established as the country's first National Park.

Wyoming was the first territory (and later the first state) to extend the right to vote to women in 1869. Women's suffrage was included in its constitution when it was accepted as the 44th state in 1890.

Answer: Utah

Part of what is Utah today was originally claimed as part of New Spain, but after the Spanish-American War (1846-1848) it became a territory of the United States (in 1850), encompassing parts of what today are Nevada and Colorado. The first capital was Fillmore, named for President Millard Fillmore, but Salt Lake City took over the role in 1856.

The large Mormon population in the region was responsible for the delay in statehood for Utah, in that the Mormons allowed polygamy as part of their religion. Militant action took place to defend their practices, and troops were sent in to quell the 'rebellion.' The 'Utah War' took place in 1857-88.

Subsequently, the U.S. government would not allow Utah to become part of the union until polygamy was outlawed in the territory. This led to the 1890 Manifesto, in which the LDS church banned polygamy. A requirement that this also be written into the state constitution led to the eventual acceptance of Utah as the 45th state in 1896.

Answer: Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Organic Act of 1890 created two territories with the intent of future statehood: The Oklahoma Territory and the Indian Territory. The Indian Territory was comprised of the Five 'Civilised' Tribes (Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek (Muscogee), and Seminole) while the Oklahoma Territory (Oklahoma translates as 'Red People' from the Choctaw words okla and humma).

In 1902, the leaders of the Indian Territory sought to create a new state by the name of Sequoyah, with a strongly supported petition put forward to Congress in 1905, but Congress did not want the Indian and Oklahoma Territories to join as separate states.

President Teddy Roosevelt turned down the initial petition, but a counter-proposal was suggested to rework the petition to include Oklahoma. Subsequently, the new state of Oklahoma, including both territories, was accepted into the Union in 1907.

Answer: New Mexico

Nuevo México was originally a state within New Spain, with Santa Fe (founded in 1610) as its capital. The region was named in 1563 for the Aztec Valley of Mexico approximately 250 years before the name was chosen for the present day country of Mexico. After the Spanish-American War (1846-48) the land comprising New Mexico was ceded to the United States, and following the Compromise of 1850, some of Texas' claim to the region was given up and the New Mexico Territory was created, including part of present day Colorado and most of present day Arizona.

The region was contested during the Civil War, with both Union and Confederate forces trying to stake their claims. With an uncertain status before and after, Congress was loathe to grant statehood, despite efforts in 1872, 1889 and 1906. Finally, with Howard Taft elected President in 1908, support was given to New Mexico's (and Arizona's) petitions in 1910, and Congress approved, subject to conditions regarding citizens' rights (specifically for those of Hispanic descent). New Mexico became the 47th U.S. state on January 6th, 1912.

Answer: Arizona

Arizona's road to statehood was inextricably linked to that of New Mexico's, as seen from that interesting info section. The main difference came during the Civil War when the 'Territory of Arizona' was created by seceding from the Union under the Confederate flag in 1862. The U.S. Government countered by creating its own 'Arizona Territory' in 1863. That dispute was settled with the conclusion of the war.

Afterwards, the same stalling that New Mexico experienced in its bid for statehood was experienced by Arizona, and both states received Congressional approval at the same time. Arizona just took a little longer to dot the i's and cross the t's, becoming the 48th state in February of 1812.

Answer: Alaska

Alaska (as Russian America) was first claimed by the Empire of Russia in 1733 and remained under their jurisdiction until purchased by the United States for $7.2 million in 1867. After the gold rush started a large influx of people in the 1890s and 1900s, the United States decided to incorporate the region as a new territory, and the Alaska Territory became official in 1912, with a new capital seated in Juneau (moved from Sitka).

Momentum for statehood did not come until a referendum in 1946, but it took a few more years for approval by Congress, which occurred on July 7th, 1958. Alaska was officially proclaimed a state on January 3, 1959.

Answer: Hawaiʻi

The last state to join the Union in the 20th century was Hawaiʻi. When British explorer James Cook first visited Hawaiʻi in 1778, he discovered an established native population. In 1795, Kamehameha the Great united the islands of Oʻahu, Mauʻi, Molokaʻi, and Lânaʻi under his rule, creating the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. In 1810, Kauaʻi and Niʻihau also joined, creating a united kingdom.

The United States established a relationship with the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi over more than half a century with a series of treaties (between 1820 and 1893), following which a one-party republic was established (until 1898). The islands were subsequently annexed by the United states as an organized incorporated territory of the United States, officially becoming the Territory of Hawaiʻi in 1900.

Territorial status lasted until Hawaiʻi was accepted into the Union as the 50th state on August 21st, 1959.