The "They're Coming Out Of The Cracks And Applying For Statehood!" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Reading yet another story about places throughout the world who would like to become one of the United States of America.  The last two locations that became new States in the Union were Alaska and Hawaii who were both named a State in 1959.  It's been over 60 years since the United States has added a new State to the Union.   I began to do a search of places that would like to be considered for Statehood, and was amazed at a few that were considering applying for Statehood.  One of a few locations that has have been talked about for years is Puerto Rico.  

Puerto Rico

The U.S. has had a presence in Puerto Rico since it claimed the island for its own during the Spanish-American War of 1898.  The Jones-Shafroth Act granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Rican residents in 1917, but Puerto Rico was never declared an official State.  In 1951 the residents of Puerto Rico voted for commonwealth status after President Truman signed the Puerto Rico Commonwealth Bill.  A majority of voters in Puerto Rico indicated they were not happy with Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. territory, but when given the choice to become a U.S. State,  an independent country or a "sovereign free associated state," more than 60% of Puerto Rican voters voted for U.S. statehood.  Perhaps it will happen in the near future.  

The island of Guam

Another tiny island in the Western Pacific, Guam, has long served as a strategic location for the United States.  During WWII, Guam and the Philippines served as important vantage points for U.S. military engagements in Asia.  When the U.S. took control of Guam, it was made an official territory, but the citizens were not U.S. citizens until 1950.  Over time, the people of Guam have moved toward self-government, but the most likely reason Guam could become a U.S. State is the military flexibility the island affords the U.S. in terms of its relations with Japan, North Korea and China.  So, it is mutually beneficial to both Guam and the U.S. for them to become a State.  Might that happen in the near future?  

The U.S. Virgin Island of St. Thomas

The U.S. Virgin Islands in the 17th and 18th centuries were part of the Danish West Indies.  In the 1860s the United States began to explore the possibility of a peaceful acquisition of the islands.  When WWI began the U.S. was concerned that Germany was setting its sights on Denmark which would give them control of the Virgin Islands.  So the U.S. bought the islands for $25,000,000 worth of gold coins.  In 1927 the residents of the islands were granted citizenship, but today the U.S. Virgin Islands have no formal constitution.  Their residents can't vote in U.S. elections.  But, low voter turnout has hampered the islands from moving forward with Statehood.  Maybe they will someday soon become new States in the Union.  

Manhattan Cityscape

Another location that I read about was New York City.  They would like to become their own state, separate from the rest of New York.  New York City would be separate from the 53 counties in upstate New York.  Proponents of the new state highlight the political and economic differences between New York City and upstate New York.  But, revenues in New York City benefit the upstate economy.  We will have to wait and see what happens there.  One more location in the current United States that would like to become their own State is the District of Columbia.  

Washington, D.C.

They are getting tired of not being able to vote and want to have the same rights as the rest of the United States.  They would be known as the State of New Columbia.  They have the best chance of becoming a new state and would be the 51st U.S. State.  Now, the final two locations that would like to be a U.S. State are rather interesting.  One is Cuba that is less than 100 miles from the coast of Florida.  Cuba is now home to the United States oldest overseas Navy Base, Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.  The Base is a 45-square-mile parcel on the southern tip of the island since 1903.  

Cuba

If the United States can get the country to become a Free Cuba, they could possibly become a U.S. State.  Now for the final location that would like to become a U.S. State.  It is 3,500 miles from New York City, but shares a historical and financial connection.  Great Britain is a little larger than Alabama and Georgia combined, but has a population of over 60 million.  Making them a state would instantly make Great Britain the most populous of the United States.  They are currently a member of the European Union, but has no plans to adopt the Euro, staunchly maintaining the Pound Sterling as its currency.  

If the United States wishes to make Great Britain a State, it would extend a foothold onto another continent at the end of the 21st Century.  Now, what are the chances of that happening.  They'd have to change their big sport to real Football with pads instead of what they now call football where they kick the ball into a net!  Not going to happen for a long, long time.  I'll never be around to see it happen and more than likely either will you.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

Great Britain