Which United Colony became the First U.S. State?
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| ETATS UNIS DE L'AMERIQUE SEPTENTRIONALE avec le Canada et la Floride, an original 18th century copperplate engraved 1783 map of The United States Of America Following the Peace Treaty of 1783 that was dedicated and presented to his Excellence Mr. Benjamin Franklin, Minister Plenipotentiary of the United States of America at the Court of France. - Image from the Historic.us Collection |
Is Delaware the First
State? The answer can be found on the
"state quarter," issued by the US Mint, that heralds Delaware as the first state. The coin depicts Continental
Congress Delegate Caesar Rodney riding his horse to Independence Hall to break
the state’s 1 to 1 tie vote on Independence.
On July 2, 1776,
Delaware, voting two Delegates to one, joined the 11 other Colonies in
declaring independence from Great Britain.
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| Continental Congress Resolution for Independency title section, courtesy of the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives - |
Two days later, on July 4th,
these 12 states, with New York still abstaining, passed a second resolution declaring
independence that named their new republic, the United States of
America.
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| Declaration of Independence Broadside – that is the rare John Dunlap facsimile printing of the Declaration of Independence called the "Lost Copy," which was discovered in 1968 on the dusty shelves of Leary's Book Store in Philadelphia during the closing of that establishment after 132 years in business. This printing was featured by the Freedom Train on its nationwide tour from April 1975 - December 1976 and was seen in 76 cities in the 48 contiguous states during the Bi-Centennial celebration. Notice the heading does not include the word unanimous because New York had agreed to Independency on July 4th - Image from the Historic.us Collection |
This second independence
resolution, the Declaration of Independence, was ordered to be engrossed on
July 17th, 1776 after New York approved independence in White
Plains, NY on July 9th, 1776.
On August 2nd, 1776 the delegates reassembled at the Philadelphia
State House and signed the one and only engrossed Declaration of Independence,
which has become an international icon that herald’s not only the birth of the United
States but the immortal words:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness
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Declaration of Independence William J. Stone 1824 engraving - Image from the Historic.us Collection
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To this day, all 50 states mark July 4th,
1776 as the birth date of the United States of America. Therefore, it stands to reason that the first
state that voted for independence has the right to claim it is the first state
to form the new United States of America Republic.
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| Continental Congress Resolution for Independency complete image, courtesy of the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives |
The July 2nd, 1776 manuscript, used on the floor at Independence Hall to
tally the 12 States’ votes, reports the order in which each state declared its independence.
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| Continental Congress Resolution for Independency complete image, courtesy of the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, Record Group 360; National Archives |
It was the colony of New
Hampshire, not Delaware that was the first to vote for Independence, thus the
first state to join the new republic of 12 independent states united in a
Continental Congress. 100 years later, the official publications US Centennial's publications and the World's Fair would list New Hampshire as the “first state” to declare its independence
from Great Britain.
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| - Image from the Historic.us Collection |
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The centennial book of the signers: being fac-simile letters of each signer of the Declaration of independence, Brotherhead, William, United States Centennial Exhibition 1876: Philadelphia, Pa. - New Hampshire page - Image from the Historic.us Collection
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Neil Ronk, Senior Guide and Historian of the Christ Church Preservation Trust holds up John Dunlap's 1777 York-Town printing of the 1776 Journals of Congress flanked by NCHC Honors Students. The Journals have been opened to July 2nd 1776, marking the passage of the Resolution for Independency. - For more information visit our National Park and NCHC Partners in the Park Class of 2017 website |
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US Constitution Ratification Table for the American Museum, July 1788 issue - Image from the Historic.us Collection
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The challenge to this
argument is rooted in the fact that the US Constitution of 1787, ratified first
by Delaware, was not the first constitution of the United States of America.
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Journals of Congress Containing The Proceedings In The Year, 1777 Published by Order of Congress by John Dunlap: Philadelphia: 1778. - Image from the Historic.us Collection
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On November 15th,
1777, 13 states united in the US Continental Congress approved the Articles of
Confederation, the US Constitution of 1777, Unlike the July 2, 1776 Resolution For independency, the Articles required unanimous
ratification by all the states for enactment.
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| Articles of Confederation Manuscript front page courtesy of the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, National Archives |
On December 16, 1777 the first state to ratify the Articles of
Confederation was Virginia.
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NCHC Partners in the Park Student primary source exhibit on the second floor of Independence Hall flanked by the National Collegiate Honor’s Council Partners in the Park Independence Hall Class of 2017. The primary sources exhibited include an original 1781 Journals of Congress open to the Articles of Confederation, Owen Biddle's 1779 resignation as United States Lottery Manager, US National Lottery ticket 3rd Class, USCA President Elias Boudinot letter to General Arthur St. Clair regarding the Army mutiny that forced Congress to flee Philadelphia to Princeton, Pennsylvania vs Connecticut 1782 decision manuscript, 1774 Journals of Congress and a 1781 USCA President Thomas McKean letter signed. – For more information visit our National Park and NCHC Partners in the Park Class of 2017 website |
Therefore if one is going to discard the July
2, 1776 Resolution For Independence
voting order for a US Constitutional order, Virginia, not Delaware, that has
the right to claim it was the first state under the first US Constitution,
which was enacted on March 1, 1781.
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| Articles of Confederation Manuscript signature page - courtesy of the Papers of the Continental Congress, 1774-1783; Records of the Continental and Confederation Congresses and the Constitutional Convention, 1774-1789, National Archives |
Note in this Articles of
Confederation ratification chart that New Hampshire the first state under the
1776 Resolution for Independency, ratified the Articles 7th on March
4th, 1778 while Delaware, the first state under the US Constitution
of 1787, was the 12th State ratifying the Articles on February 1,
1779.
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Articles of Confederation ratification table - Image from America's Four Republics: The More or Less United States, by Stan Klos
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The reason for this
first state confusion is exemplified in the Delaware state Quarter showing Caesar
Rodney riding to formulate the United States in 1776 while claiming Delaware’s
ratification of the US Constitution of 1787, 11 years later on December 7,
1787, gives them the right to claim first state status.
In these 11 years the United States of America waged and won their war for Independence, enacted numerous treaties on behalf of the nation, and even enacted the Northwest Ordinance that, among other land mark laws, setup the mechanism to add new States to the union. This all occurred under the Articles of Confederation all before the current Constitution of 1787 was ever conceived.
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| Northwest Ordinance Article V designating the law for eventually forming the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin - Image from the Historic.us Collection |
This confusion stems
from the fact that the United States was actually the product of four different
republics. The First United American
Republic, the United Colonies of North America governed by a Colonial
Continental Congress.
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| Articles Of Association names the Continental Congress pass on October 20, 1774 - Image from the Historic.us Collection |
This First United American Republic,
which printed its own currency, organized an army for its common defense, and elected
both a Commander-in-Chief and a President to lead the 13 united colonies
politically and militarily, had no first state as the colonies remained loyal
to the crown despite their differences.
The Second United American
Republic, the United States of America which was birthed with the passage of the Resolution
for Independency on July 2, 1776. This republic was governed by the United States Continental Congress its “first state” was New Hampshire.
The Third United
American Republic, the Perpetual Union of the United States of America governed
by the United States in Congress Assembled under the Articles of Confederation also
had a first state and it was Virginia.
Finally, the Fourth
United American Republic, the current United States of America, is governed by the
U.S. House and Senate in Congress Assembled, he U.S. President and the U.S. Supreme Court under the Constitution of 1787, also
had a first state and it was Delaware.
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| July 2, 1776 Resolution For Independency vote table - Image from America's Four Republics: The More or Less United States, by Stan Klos |
So if you are inclined
to believe the United States Republic commenced in 1776, then New Hampshire has
the bragging rights of being the 1st State.
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The centennial book of the signers: being fac-simile letters of each signer of the Declaration of independence, Brotherhead, William, United States Centennial Exhibition 1876: Philadelphia, Pa. - Virginia page - Image from the Historic.us Collection
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If, however, you
maintain that the United States of America commenced under the Articles of
Confederation on March 1, 1781 , then
Virginia is your choice for the first State.
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| Constitution of 1787 ratification table - Image from America's Four Republics: The More or Less United States, by Stan Klos |
Finally, if you are of
the mind that the USA commenced with the enactment of the Constitution of 1787 on
March 4, 1789, then Delaware is definitely the first state.
I for one, maintain that
the birth of the United States of America occurred 1776 and that New Hampshire,
be it only for a minute, was the first colony to declare its independence from
Great Britain.
There is reason for New
Hampshire to step-up and claim its first state mantra. Additionally, questions like: Why was New Hampshire called on first? What was the strategy behind President
Hancock’s, which was solely his prerogative, roll call order? Is not the back of the Delaware Quarter misleading
showing Caesar Rodney making his famous 1776 ride while bestowing upon Delaware
its “First State” status for a vote that occurred in 1787?
Personally, I believe
that New Hampshire challenging Delaware on its purporting this urban legend
would only result in some positive media and eventually text book attention
that would be well received by the public and educators alike. New Hampshire, not Delaware, was the first
State and that is a historical fact, which should be proudly acknowledged by 21st
Century Granite Staters.
Below is the correct order of US Statehood:
#
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State
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Statehood
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1
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New Hampshire
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July 2, 1776
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2
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Massachusetts
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July 2, 1776
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3
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Rhode Island
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July 2, 1776
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4
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Connecticut
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July 2, 1776
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5
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New Jersey
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July 2, 1776
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6
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Pennsylvania
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July 2, 1776
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7
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Delaware
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July 2, 1776
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8
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Virginia
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July 2, 1776
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9
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North Carolina
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July 2, 1776
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10
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South Carolina
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July 2, 1776
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11
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Georgia
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July 2, 1776
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12
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Maryland
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July 2, 1776
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13
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New York
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July 9, 1776
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14
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Vermont
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March 4, 1791
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15
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Kentucky
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June 1, 1792
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16
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Tennessee
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June 1, 1796
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17
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Ohio
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March 1, 1803
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18
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Louisiana
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April 30, 1812
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19
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Indiana
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December 11, 1816
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20
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Mississippi
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December 10, 1817
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21
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Illinois
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December 3, 1818
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22
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Alabama
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December 14, 1819
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23
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Maine
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March 15, 1820
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24
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Missouri
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August 10, 1821
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25
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Arkansas
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June 15, 1836
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26
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Michigan
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January 26, 1837
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27
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Florida
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March 3, 1845
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28
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Texas
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December 29, 1845
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29
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Iowa
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December 28, 1846
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30
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Wisconsin
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May 29, 1848
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31
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California
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September 9, 1850
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32
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Minnesota
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May 11, 1858
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33
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Oregon
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February 14, 1859
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34
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Kansas
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January 29, 1861
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35
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West Virginia
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June 20, 1863
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36
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Nevada
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October 31, 1864
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37
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Nebraska
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March 1, 1867
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38
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Colorado
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August 1, 1876
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39
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North Dakota
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November 2, 1889
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40
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South Dakota
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November 2, 1889
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41
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Montana
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November 8, 1889
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42
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Washington
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November 11, 1889
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43
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Idaho
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July 3, 1890
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44
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Wyoming
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July 10, 1890
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45
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Utah
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January 4, 1896
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46
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Oklahoma
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November 16, 1912
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47
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New Mexico
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January 6, 1912
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48
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Arizona
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February 14, 1912
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49
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Alaska
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January 3, 1959
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50
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Hawaii
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August 21, 1959
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Artist Bill Browning painting the Capitols of the United Colonies and States of America in Gibsonton, Florida. 17" x 19" |
Capitals of the United Colonies and States of America
Articles of Confederation Congress
United States in Congress Assembled (USCA) Sessions
* The Articles of Confederation was ratified by the mandated 13th State on February 2, 1781, and the dated adopted by the Continental Congress to commence the new United States in Congress Assembled government was March 1, 1781. The USCA convened under the Articles of Confederation Constitution on March 2, 1781.
** On September 14, 1788, the Eighth United States in Congress Assembled resolved that March 4th, 1789, would be commencement date of the Constitution of 1787's federal government thus dissolving the USCA on March 3rd, 1789.
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