A few U.S. states outside of the original 13 have been admitted that were never organized territories of the federal government. The most notable are Vermont, an unrecognized, independent republic until its admission in 1791; Kentucky, a part of Virginia until its admission in 1792; Maine, a part of Massachusetts until its admission in 1820 following the Missouri Compromise, an agreement that regulated slavery in the Western territories; Texas, a recognized independent republic until its admission in 1845; California, created as a state out of the unorganized territory of the Mexican Cession in 1850 without ever having been a separate organized territory; and West Virginia, created from areas of Virginia that rejoined the Union in 1863, after the 1861 secession of Virginia during the Civil War era.
- How did the United States begin?
- How did we get the United States national anthem?
- What do the stars and stripes on the United States flag mean?
- Why is the bald eagle the official national symbol of the United States?
- Why is the Statue of Liberty such an important symbol of the United States?
- Why is it important to vote?
- What is a citizen?
- Why do we need to follow the law?
- What happens when a person breaks the law?
- How does a person’s clothing tell where he or she comes from?
- How does the Bill of Rights protect individual liberties?
- What is the Bill of Rights?
- What is a town meeting?
- What does a mayor do?
- What is a governor’s job?
- How is state government organized?
- What is the difference between a senator and a representative?
- What is the president’s job?
- How can the average person get involved in the government?
- What is the federal government?
