# Any Petitions for Statehood denied? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 23, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416 "2002-07-23T18:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/1 "2002-07-23T18:03:59Z")
The other [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=126915) about the US’s states and territories got me wondering. The US Constitution lays out the procedure for admiting new states to the union in Article IV Section 3: > [@](#): > > New states may be admitted by the Congress into this union; but no new states shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction of any other state; nor any state be formed by the junction of two or more states, or parts of states, without the consent of the legislatures of the states concerned as well as of the Congress. As I understand it, a territory must petition Congress to admit it as a state – this is what happened during the westward expansionism of the 19th century. And occasionally, there is a ballot refferendum in Puerto Rico about whether or not to petition Congress for statehood. So, has anything ever petitioned Congress for statehood and been rejected? Has Congress ever refused to admit something as a state to the union? ---
**Author:** ![mandielise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/58956e/32.png) [@mandielise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mandielise)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/2 "2002-07-23T19:32:24Z")
I don’t know if it’s happened yet, but I’m pretty sure that if Puerto Rica DOES petition Congress for statehood, they’d be denied. While they have a beautiful land and a great tourism-based economy, many people are poor, and the last thing we need is more people on welfare! ---
**Author:** ![Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Milton\_De\_La\_Warre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Milton_De_La_Warre)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/3 "2002-07-23T19:42:01Z")
Yes, I think it happened back in the days when the Congress was worried about how many slave states there’d be relative to the number of free states. Texas (slave state) took 10 years or so to get in, but California (free state) took only three weeks and change. Both were “Republics” before being made states. I don’t beleive Congress outright refused admission and statehood, but rather made iffy cases territories. Hawaii was the only independent and internationally recognized nation to become a state. The monarchy was overthrown by people who were mostly expatriate Americans, then the resulting “republic” was admitted as a territory a few years later, to become a state in 1959. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/4 "2002-07-23T19:43:16Z")
East Tennessee tried to lobby for statehood, just after the Civil War. Don’t know if it reached the formal petition stage. ---
**Author:** ![zev\_steinhardt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/97f17d/32.png) [@zev\_steinhardt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zev_steinhardt)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/5 "2002-07-23T19:46:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by JCHeckler \* > \*\*Hawaii was the only independent and internationally recognized nation to become a state. \*\* Texas wasn’t internationally recognized? Zev Steinhardt ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/6 "2002-07-23T19:56:35Z")
Alaska, for one, passed a referendum for statehood in 1946. A statehood bill was passed by the House in 1950 but killed by the Senate, due to concerns that the state would vote Democratic and change the balance of power in Congess. Alaska didn’t finally gain admission until 1959. An article is found [url=http://xroads.virginia.edu/~CAP/BARTLETT/49state.html]here[/url.] ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/7 "2002-07-23T20:11:44Z")
Utah’s territorial legislature petitioned Congess 6 times for admission to statehood between 1849 and 1887, but all denied. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/8 "2002-07-23T20:29:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by zev\_steinhardt \* > **Texas wasn’t internationally recognized?** The Republic of Texas was recognized by several nations. Holland was the first to recognize us. France and the UK soon followed; they hoped to use Texas to gain a new foothold in North America. The USA recognized us after waiting to make sure that Mexico wouldn’t get too miffed over it, as Mexico still claimed the land. Mexico never recognized the Republic’s legitimacy, thus the Mexican War after annexation. Texas even sent and received ambassadors to/from the nations who recognized them. No cites, just memories from my Texas history class. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/9 "2002-07-23T20:49:15Z")
> [@](#): > > Alaska, for one, passed a referendum for statehood in 1946. A statehood bill was passed by the House in 1950 but killed by the Senate, due to concerns that the state would vote Democratic and change the balance of power in Congess. Alaska didn’t finally gain admission until 1959. The irony of the situation is that Alaska was only admitted when Hawaii applied too, with Senators assuming Alaska would vote Democratic and Hawaii would vote Republican. Alaska has only voted for a Democrat for president once (1964) while Hawaii has swung to the GOP only twice (1972, 1984). Alaska sends 2 GOPers to the Senate, Hawaii sends 2 Dems. Alaska has a conservative GOP congressman, Hawaii has two very liberal Democratic congresspeople. Gotta love political realignment. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/10 "2002-07-23T20:51:00Z")
I just found a [cite](http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/RR/mzr2.html) > [@](#): > > In the fall of 1838 [President Sam] Houston sent James Pinckney Henderson abroad to seek recognition of Texas by England and France. \<…\> France, being at war with Mexico, signed a treaty on September 25, 1839, recognizing Texas independence. England, in spite of slavery in the young republic and her desire to see the abolition of slavery worldwide, could not stand idly by and see France gain influence and trade privileges in Texas. \<…\> In the fall of 1840, Lord Aberdeen announced that Her Majesty’s government would recognize Texas independence, and on November 13-16, three treaties were signed that dealt with independence, commerce and navigation, and suppression of the African slave trade. A month earlier, on September 18, Texas had concluded a treaty of amity, commerce, and navigation with the Netherlands. \<…\> Houston named Ashbel Smith minister to Great Britain and France and sent James Reily to represent Texas in Washington, D.C. He instructed both men to get the three nations to exert pressure on Mexico for peace and recognition. Okay, hijack over. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/11 "2002-07-23T21:03:35Z")
Michigan had to recognize Toledo as part of Ohio to become a state, and it was two years from the time they petitioned until they were admitted, but I don’t know if the petition was ever denied. ---
**Author:** ![Sofa\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Sofa\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sofa_King)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/12 "2002-07-23T21:33:07Z")
I believe that when the _original_ Lone Star Republic, the Republic of West Florida, was created in 1810, it applied for statehood and was denied on the grounds that the territory was already incorporated into the United States as a part of the Louisiana Purchase. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/13 "2002-07-23T22:04:40Z")
The [“Lost State of Franklin”](http://www.next1000.com/family/GRUBB/sullivan.tenn.html) in what is now eastern Tennessee tried to secede from North Carolina in 1784 (while the U.S. was still governed under the Articles of Confederation, before the present Consitution was adopted.) It applied for admission to the Confederation, but was denied. The area became part of Tennessee when it was admitted in 1789, the second new state admitted under the Consitution (after Vermont). ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/14 "2002-07-23T22:05:29Z")
As an earlier poster mentioned, France did recognize Texas as an independent nation, and King Louis-Phillippe sent an ambassador to take residence here in Austin, then the capital of the Republic of Texas. The French Legation building still stands, and is one of the few historical landmarks that visitors to Austin regularly get dragged to see. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Big\_Kahuna\_Burger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_Kahuna_Burger)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/15 "2002-07-23T22:13:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*The [“Lost State of Franklin”](http://www.next1000.com/family/GRUBB/sullivan.tenn.html) in what is now eastern Tennessee tried to secede from North Carolina in 1784 (while the U.S. was still governed under the Articles of Confederation, before the present Consitution was adopted.) It applied for admission to the Confederation, but was denied. The area became part of Tennessee when it was admitted in 1789, the second new state admitted under the Consitution (after Vermont). \*\* > **[States by Order of Entry Into the Union](https://www.infoplease.com/us/states/states-by-order-of-entry-into-the-union)** > > Ever wonder when certain states became part of the United States of America? To learn more about when each state joined the union, view this table from Infoplease. Delaware was the first state and Hawaii was the last state to become part of the U.S. Actually, it was the third sate, as Kentucky beat it by 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/16 "2002-07-23T23:26:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Big Kahuna Burger \* > \*\* > > [http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763770.html](http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0763770.html) > > Actually, it was the third sate, as Kentucky beat it by 4 years. \*\* Oops. I stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/17 "2002-07-23T23:37:01Z")
I’d thought to bring up Franklin, but I see it’s been well covered. Hawaii was an independent monarchy under the Kamehameha family from very early in the 19th Century until 1893, when American interests led by the Dole family (IIRC) overthrew Queen Liliuokalani and proclaimed a republic. They immediately instituted efforts to bring Hawaii into the Union, but President Cleveland refused to annex them. In 1898 McKinley was more cooperative – but they didn’t get statehood until 1960 (I’m not sure of why). ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2002, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/18 "2002-07-23T23:52:20Z")
Incidentally, American settlers in Hawaii asked to be admitted as a state as early as 1854. President Franklin Pierce proposed a treaty that included annexation and immediate statehood, but this was rejected by the Senate. ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/19 "2002-07-24T00:07:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by mandielise \* > \*\*I don’t know if it’s happened yet, but I’m pretty sure that if Puerto Rico DOES petition Congress for statehood, they’d be denied. While they have a beautiful land and a great tourism-based economy, many people are poor, and the last thing we need is more people on welfare! \*\* ::sigh:: A very quick search on Google reveals that Puerto Rico is already covered by [the large majority of social welfare programs.](http://aspe.hhs.gov/94gb/sec15.txt) BTW, tourism accounts for only [7% of Puerto Rico’s economy.](http://welcome.topuertorico.org/economy.shtml) Any other objections to statehood? Sua ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416/20 "2002-07-24T00:28:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Colibri \* > \*\*Incidentally, American settlers in Hawaii asked to be admitted as a state as early as 1854. President Franklin Pierce proposed a treaty that included annexation and immediate statehood, but this was rejected by the Senate. \*\* If Hawai’i had been a state in the 1850s, it would have taken a very long time get those final presidential election results in. Hawaii statehood was opposed by some even in the 1950s because certain people noticed that not everyone in Hawaii is white. That did not set well with certain members of Congress at tht time, but their numbers were few by 1959. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-petitions-for-statehood-denied/120416.md?page=2)