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Proposed States that do not Exist in the United States

Most people are aware that there are 50 separate states in the USA. What is less well acknowledged is that numerous recommendations for additional US states have been made, but they’re never implemented. The present interstate boundaries of the US would appear significantly distinct if all these territories were established. Almost all of these suggestions failed due to a lack of public support or the rejection of appropriate government officials to award statehood. Below are some of the planned states that do not exist at the moment in the US.

Jefferson

There were four different regions of the US where the establishment of the Province of Jefferson was suggested. One of them was the western portion of Kansas Territory; however, its citizens could not agree on a constitution for the separate state, leading to the creation of the Jefferson Region, subsequently known as the Colorado Jurisdiction. Texas was included in the 2nd and 3rd plans, but neither one received sufficient votes. The 4th plan was brought forward by the Southern Oregon and northern California districts. However, it was dropped from the political schedule following the Japanese assault on Pearl Harbour.

Absaroka

Absaroka was a region considered for separation and independence in the US in 1939. This would have included portions of the counties of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana. The Absaroka mountainous region takes its name from Raven’s term “Absaroka,” which means “children of the large beaked bird.” Cattlemen and individual farmers inside the 3 states’ outlying regions complained about the new plan and the Democratic Party’s power over state legislatures, particularly Wyoming’s. A.R. Swickard, the streets commissioner of Sheridan, Wyoming, who proclaimed himself “governor” and began to hear complaints in the “capital city” of Sheridan, has been one of the founders of the secessionist association.

Mount Rushmore, which was built between 1927 and 1941, would reportedly be located inside Absaroka; therefore, the hypothetical state had an incentive to promote tourism in the area. State automotive licence plates depicting the name and images of Miss Absaroka in 1939 were issued during a popular fervour for state separation. The campaign failed and didn’t last very long. The Central Writers’ Program, which featured a narrative about the idea as an illustration of Western quirkiness, serves as the primary source of information regarding its presence.

Franklin

That was typical for USA states to donate their westernmost holdings to the embryonic United States federal govt, which was broken during the period, well after the American Revolution War. The United States administration would then market these properties to people moving west. In April 1784, the United States Congress purchased several of the westernmost territories that belonged to the region of North Carolina. The locals chose to form their separate state, the Region of Franklin, which proclaimed freedom in December 1784, out of concern that the United States govt might sell this region to French or Spanish countries to settle off its war money owing. The state only existed for 4 years before its territory was united with North Carolina in 1789.

South California

Throughout the 1850s, Southern California made 3 attempts to become a distinct state or territory from Northern California. The California State Legislature approved a proposal to divide the state into three parts in 1855. The vastness of this particular geographical region was the main factor. During the period, the capital of the state had been too remote due to the distances from Southern California as well as some other locations. The participation in Congress was insufficient for this type of sizable region; it appeared to be too expensive for one administration, and the proposal ultimately failed in the California Assembly because it was given relatively little attention as an alternative to other important political issues.

The area southward of the 36th parallel north became the Territorial of Colorado in 1859, after which the parliament and governor passed the Pico Act, sponsored by a state representative from South California , Andrés Pico. The main justification offered was that Northern and Southern California differed in terms of geographical location and lifestyle. This was ratified by a large majority of the electorate in the projected Colorado Territories, endorsed by the state attorney general, John B. Weller, and delivered to Washington, D.C., with Representative Milton Latham as a fervent supporter. Unfortunately, the plan was never put to a vote because of the secession issue and the American Civil War that erupted after Lincoln’s victory in 1860.

Owing to the complexity of travelling all over the rocky range, there had been significant discussion in Sacramento in the late nineteenth century about dividing the state in half just at Tehachapi Hills. The debate was finally closed when it was decided that it would be possible to construct a roadway across the hills; this path became the Ridge Route.

Scott

Scott Counties in Tennessee served as the inspiration for the title of the hypothetical state. Following Tennessee’s leaving the Union to enter the Confederacy at the time of the American Civil War, the citizens of this area made an effort to leave Tennessee. These citizens were neither farmers nor bondsmen owners; hence, it made absolutely no sense to them to declare independence. The declaration of the territory of Scott, though, was disregarded by the Tennessee govt, and it wasn’t even raised until 1986, on the commemorating 125th anniversary of the self-proclamation of the territory, when its citizens officially asked Tennessee for admission once more.

Conclusion

Numerous historical occurrences and other political factors that shaped history prevented the development of various states, and most states were unable to materialise as a result of historical circumstances. The past did not create this situation for the future.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

What are a few US states that are no longer in existence?

Ans. South California, Jefferson, and Absaroka.

Which territory was on the verge of statehood?

Ans. West Virginia, a planned state in the American Civil war, was almost admitted as a state.  ...Read full

Is Texas able to formally secede?

Ans. It cannot lawfully leave the United States as a nation.

Is it possible to unite any two states?

Ans. If all the conditions are met, they can indeed be combined.