The United States began as 13 British colonies hugging the Atlantic coastline. Through revolution, purchase, conquest, and compromise, the nation expanded westward and beyond, eventually forming the 50 states we know today. This remarkable transformation spans nearly two centuries and represents one of history's most dramatic national evolutions.
The United States of America began as a collection of thirteen British colonies perched along the Atlantic seaboard. Today, it spans a continent and beyond, encompassing 50 diverse states. This remarkable transformation from colonial outpost to global superpower represents one of history's most extraordinary national expansions, accomplished through revolution, diplomacy, purchase, conquest, and compromise.
The journey from 13 colonies to 50 states took nearly 200 years, with each new addition to the union reflecting the complex interplay of American ideals, political pressures, economic interests, and the nation's evolving sense of its own destiny. Let's explore how America grew from its humble colonial beginnings to become the vast republic we know today.
The Original Thirteen Colonies
Between 1607 and 1732, Great Britain established thirteen colonies along North America's eastern seaboard. These colonies were: Virginia (1607), Massachusetts (1620), New Hampshire (1623), Maryland (1634), Connecticut (1636), Rhode Island (1636), Delaware (1638), North Carolina (1653), South Carolina (1663), New Jersey (1664), New York (1664), Pennsylvania (1682), and Georgia (1732).
Each colony developed its own distinct identity, economic systems, and social structures. The New England colonies relied on trade, fishing, and small-scale farming. The Middle Colonies became known as the "breadbasket" with their fertile soil. The Southern Colonies established plantation economies heavily dependent on enslaved labor for crops like tobacco, rice, and later cotton.
The American Revolution and Birth of a Nation
By the 1770s, tensions between the colonies and Great Britain had reached a breaking point over issues of taxation without representation and other grievances. The American Revolution (1775-1783) resulted in the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and eventual British recognition of American sovereignty through the 1783 Treaty of Paris.
The former colonies became the first thirteen states of the new nation: Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Under the Articles of Confederation and later the Constitution (1789), these states formed the foundation of the United States.
Early Territorial Expansion (1783-1853)
Even before the Constitution was ratified, the young nation began expanding beyond its original boundaries:
- The Northwest Territory (1787) organized the land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi, eventually becoming Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
- The Louisiana Purchase (1803) doubled the nation's size when Thomas Jefferson bought 828,000 square miles from France for $15 million, extending American territory to the Rocky Mountains.
- Florida was acquired from Spain in 1819 through the Adams-Onís Treaty.
- The Republic of Texas, which had won independence from Mexico in 1836, was annexed in 1845.
- The Oregon Territory was acquired through a treaty with Great Britain in 1846, adding the future states of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and parts of Montana and Wyoming.
- The Mexican Cession (1848), following the Mexican-American War, added California and most of the Southwest.
- The Gadsden Purchase (1853) acquired southern Arizona and New Mexico from Mexico for $10 million.
Westward Movement and Manifest Destiny
The concept of Manifest Destiny-the belief that American expansion across the continent was both inevitable and divinely ordained-became a powerful driving force in the mid-19th century. This ideology justified westward expansion and the displacement of Native American peoples from their ancestral lands.
As territories were acquired, they followed a process toward statehood:
- Congress would organize an official territory with appointed leadership
- As population grew, residents would petition for statehood
- Congress would pass an enabling act allowing the territory to draft a constitution
- After approving the constitution, Congress would admit the new state
During the first half of the 19th century, states were often admitted in pairs to maintain the balance between free and slave states, reflecting the growing tensions over slavery that would eventually lead to the Civil War.
The Civil War and Reconstruction
The Civil War (1861-1865) temporarily fractured the union when eleven Southern states seceded to form the Confederate States of America. The war was fought primarily over slavery and states' rights, with the victory of Union forces preserving the United States as one nation and ending slavery through the 13th Amendment.
During the Reconstruction Era (1865-1877), the former Confederate states were gradually readmitted to the Union under various conditions. This period saw the passage of the 14th Amendment (granting citizenship to former slaves) and the 15th Amendment (granting voting rights regardless of race).
Even during this tumultuous period, the nation continued to grow:
- West Virginia separated from Virginia during the Civil War and joined the Union as a free state in 1863.
- Nevada achieved statehood in 1864, partly to help secure Abraham Lincoln's reelection and support for the 13th Amendment.
- Nebraska became a state in 1867, the first admission after the Civil War.
Completing the Continental United States
The latter half of the 19th century and early 20th century saw the remaining territories of the contiguous United States achieve statehood:
- Colorado (1876) - Known as the "Centennial State" for joining during America's 100th anniversary
- North Dakota and South Dakota (both 1889)
- Montana (1889) and Washington (1889)
- Idaho (1890) and Wyoming (1890)
- Utah (1896) - After the Mormon Church officially abandoned polygamy
- Oklahoma (1907) - Formed from Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory
- Arizona and New Mexico (both 1912) - The final continental territories to become states
Alaska and Hawaii: The Final States
Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, a deal criticized as "Seward's Folly" after Secretary of State William Seward who negotiated it. The discovery of gold in the 1890s and later oil reserves proved the purchase's tremendous value. Alaska became the 49th state in 1959.
Hawaii had been an independent kingdom until American business interests, supported by the U.S. military, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani in 1893. It was annexed in 1898, became a U.S. territory in 1900, and finally achieved statehood as the 50th state in August 1959, completing the union as we know it today.
U.S. Territories and Commonwealth Status
Beyond the 50 states, the United States maintains several territories and commonwealths that are not states but are under U.S. sovereignty:
- Puerto Rico - Acquired from Spain in 1898, became a commonwealth in 1952
- U.S. Virgin Islands - Purchased from Denmark in 1917
- Guam - Acquired from Spain in 1898
- American Samoa - Came under U.S. control in 1900
- Northern Mariana Islands - UN trusteeship that became a commonwealth in 1978
Residents of these territories are generally U.S. citizens or nationals, but they lack full voting representation in Congress and cannot vote in presidential elections (though they may participate in primary elections). The question of whether some territories-particularly Puerto Rico-might someday become the 51st state remains an ongoing political discussion.
From those original thirteen colonies hugging the Atlantic coast to today's transcontinental nation of 50 states, America's territorial evolution reflects its complex history of expansion, conflict, compromise, and integration. The story of how the United States grew to its current form provides crucial context for understanding American identity and the nation's place in the world today.
Frequently Asked Questions About America's Expansion: How 13 Colonies Grew Into 50 United States
Which were the original 13 colonies and in what order were they established?
The 13 original British colonies, in order of establishment, were: Virginia (1607), Massachusetts (1620), New Hampshire (1623), Maryland (1634), Connecticut (1636), Rhode Island (1636), Delaware (1638), North Carolina (1653), South Carolina (1663), New Jersey (1664), New York (1664), Pennsylvania (1682), and Georgia (1732). These became the first 13 states after the American Revolution.
How did the United States acquire the territory that became Alaska?
Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (about 2 cents per acre), in a deal negotiated by Secretary of State William Seward. Initially ridiculed as "Seward's Folly" or "Seward's Icebox," the purchase proved immensely valuable after the discovery of gold in the 1890s and later oil reserves. Alaska remained a territory for 92 years before becoming the 49th state in 1959.
What was the Louisiana Purchase and why was it significant?
The Louisiana Purchase was a land deal between the United States and France in 1803, where the U.S. acquired approximately 828,000 square miles of territory for $15 million. It doubled the size of the young nation and eventually formed all or part of 15 states. This massive acquisition secured the Mississippi River for American trade, opened vast new lands for settlement, and represented a major step in America's westward expansion.
Were states ever admitted to preserve political balance?
Yes, particularly before the Civil War, states were often admitted in pairs to maintain balance between free and slave states in the Senate. For example, Maine (free) and Missouri (slave) were admitted as part of the Missouri Compromise of 1820. This practice reflected the intense political tensions over slavery that eventually contributed to the Civil War.
How did Hawaii become part of the United States?
Hawaii was an independent kingdom until 1893, when American business interests, supported by U.S. military forces, overthrew Queen Liliuokalani. The islands were annexed in 1898, became a U.S. territory in 1900, and achieved statehood on August 21, 1959, becoming the 50th state. The overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy remains controversial, with the U.S. Congress formally apologizing in 1993 for America's role in this action.
What is the process for a territory to become a state?
The typical path to statehood involves: 1) Congress organizing an official territory with appointed leadership, 2) As population grows, residents petition for statehood, 3) Congress passes an enabling act allowing the territory to draft a constitution, 4) Residents vote to approve their constitution, and 5) Congress votes to admit the new state. While the Constitution outlines basic requirements, the specific details have varied throughout history based on political considerations.
Could Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories become the 51st state?
It's possible. Puerto Rico, as the most populous U.S. territory with nearly 3.2 million residents, has held multiple status referendums, with statehood winning majority support in recent votes. However, statehood would require approval from both houses of Congress. The political status of Puerto Rico and other territories remains an ongoing debate, with options including statehood, independence, or maintaining current territorial status.
