statehood

• 
• SOURCE: The Atlantic
  9/19/19
  

  When Adding New States Helped the Republicans

  by Heather Cox Richardson

  Putting new stars on the U.S. flag has always been political. But D.C. statehood is a modest partisan ploy compared with the mass admission of underpopulated western territories—which boosts the GOP even 130 years later.

• 
• SOURCE: The Conversation
  3/18/19
  

  Racists in Congress fought statehood for Hawaii, but lost that battle 60 years ago

  by Sarah Miller Davenport

  Sixty years ago, Dwight Eisenhower signed legislation making Hawaii America’s 50th state. 

• 
• SOURCE: The Conversation
  6-9-17
  

  Statehood for Puerto Rico?

  Lessons from the last time the US added a star to its flag.

• SOURCE: AP
  6-20-13
  

  W.Va celebrates 150th anniversary

  CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia got its 150th birthday party started Thursday with a bell-ringing ceremony, festivals, speeches, concerts — and lots of cake.On the state Capitol steps, hundreds of people watched as a bell rang 35 times to honor West Virginia’s entrance as the 35th state on June 20, 1863.“This is not just an important day in our state history,” Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said. “It’s a great day in American history.”The state Culture Center also was bustling with activity as visitors listened to folk music, bought West Virginia Forever birthday stamps that debuted Thursday and attended the Charleston Light Opera Guild’s free performance of the Broadway musical “Civil War.”...