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Ohio
Originally, Ohio was colonized by the French, but after the French and Indian War it became British land. After the American Revolution, it was acquired by the United States as part of the Northwest Territory. It became a state in 1803, but there was no formal declaration until 1953 when it was signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. -
Louisiana
After originally being colonized by the French, Louisiana was acquired in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. -
Indiana
Indiana was originally occupied by Native Americans, but after the American Revolution many white immigrants moved there, which created conflict between them and the tribes. The Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, which was won by General William Henry Harrison, was a turning point and not many years after Indiana became a state. -
Mississippi
Mississippi was originally home to many Native American tribes and the Spanish arrived there before any other country. However, the first permanent settlement was created by the French. The Western part of the Mississippi territory became what we now know as Mississippi. -
Illinois
After the French and Indian War, Illinois was acquired by the British. The Illinois Territory became part of the US after the American Revolution and became the state of Illinois in 1818. -
Alabama
After being occupied by the French, the British took over following the French and Indian War. After the American Revolution, it was ceded to the United States. At first, it was part of the Mississippi Territory, but after Mississippi became a state, it became the Alabama Territory. -
Maine
Maine became a state because of the Missouri Compromise. It was added to the union as a free state. -
Missouri
Missouri became a state because of the Missouri Compromise. It was added to the union as a slave state. -
Arkansas
Arkansas became part of the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. In 1819, Arkansas became a separate territory from the rest of the land acquired in the Louisiana Purchase, but it didn't become a state until 1836. -
Michigan
After the French and Indian War control of this land was granted to Britain, but after the American Revolution the US acquired it. It was originally part of the Northwest Territory, but became part of the Indiana Territory in 1800. Five years later the Michigan Territory was created and it became a state in 1837. -
Florida
After being controlled previously by Spain, France, and Britain, Florida became a United States territory in 1821. It became a state in 1845, but before that there was conflict because some people wanted to separate the Florida Territory into two states. -
Texas
Texas was acquired during the Louisiana Purchase. The Mexican government allowed United States settlers to claim land in this area, but this caused much conflict to arise. The most famous battle was the Battle of the Alamo. After the Texas Revolution, it became its own nation, Texas Republic, but ended up joining the union in 1845. -
Iowa
The United States gained Iowa from the Louisiana Purchase. It became a territory in 1838. It became a state in 1846 after new boundaries were created. -
Wisconsin
In 1787, the US gained control of it and it became part of the Northwest Territory. In 1836, it became its own territory, the Wisconsin Territory, and it became a state in 1848. -
California
In the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, California was ceded to the United States by Mexico. Unlike most other states, it actually never became a territory. It just became a state around 2 years later in 1850. -
Minnesota
The land that is now Minnesota was acquired by the United States through the Louisiana Purchase. In 1849, it became the Minnesota Territory and it became a state in 1858. This was after the Native American tribes that had occupied the land were forced to sign treaties, which gave up the majority of Minnesota to the United States government. -
Oregon
In the 1830s, many groups traveled to this area through the Oregon Trail. Both the United States and the United Kingdom settled in what is now known as Oregon. The 49th Parallel, which was the border between the British and American territories, was put into place in 1846. The British portion became a part of Canada and the United States' portion became the state of Oregon in 1859.
