Question of the Week: 1/4-1/10/21

Was your home state a recognized state in 1861? Or was it still in territory status?



29 Responses to Question of the Week: 1/4-1/10/21

  1. Missouri – so, recognized twice. This year is our Bicentennial as a State in the Union. Then in November, 1861, we were recognized as the 12th State in the Confederacy. Ours was not a very safe place to live for the next several years.

  2. Current home state is Florida, so a state at the time. Past home states of New Jersey, Massachusetts, Kentucky and Virginia were all states in 1861.

  3. North Carolina ratified the U.S. Constitution on November 21, 1789 making it the twelfth state to join the Union.

  4. Washington – became a state 11/11/1889. (Previously part of the Oregon Territory est. in 1848, then a separate Territory in 1853, prior to statehood). Washington’s first Territorial Governor died at the Civil War Battle of Chantilly, an officer in the Union Army.

  5. The Great State of Wisconsin was admitted to the Union in 1848. Several other states I’ve lived in have been mentioned, but one I have lived has not – Georgia, one of the original 13.

  6. New York was one of the original 13 colonies that became the original states. New York City may have been muttering about secession early in the war, but it came to nothing.

    Arizona, my birth state, not so much. Statehood took until February 14, 1912. Something about not enough people and too many massacres. However, Jefferson Davis made Arizona a Confederate territory in 1862. Lincoln’s administration wasn’t having any of that so Arizona became a federal territory on February 14, 1863, having since 1848 been part of New Mexico Territory.

  7. From September 9, 1850 California has been a state, sending first gold, then taxes to support the Union!

  8. Paternal state Wisconsin, granddaddy helped found the Party of Lincoln in Ripon. Maternal state North Carolina, granddaddy survived Fredericksburg but not the dysentery…

  9. I live in what once once the New Mexico territory, but that part of which is now the State of Arizona. In 1861, the southern part of the New Mexico territory was claimed by the CSA and called the Arizona territory. So technically, I live in what was once a territory of the USA and a putative territory of the Confederacy. The Confederates invaded the territory and there were several small engagements in what is now Arizona and New Mexico, one of which is about an hour south of where I live at a place called Picacho Peak.

  10. Vermont, a state in 1793, along with Kentucky. Both had strips on the star spangled banner, but later taken off

  11. Iowa: Admitted to the Union on December 27, 1846 as the 29th state. No Civil War battles in Iowa, but she heavily supported the Union, contributing proportionately more men than did any other state, north or south, more than 75,000 volunteers, over one-sixth of whom lost their lives.

  12. Born in what was once the great state of California, then moved to Virginia just prior to first grade. So I reckon we spanned the entire landmass west-to-east.

  13. My home state today and for the past thirty years has been South Australia. Not considered by many is the REACH the American Civil War had beyond the borders of the “Lower 48.” By my reckoning, the following nations/ locations witnessed “Civil War activity” within their borders/ territorial waters: Mexico (various attempts by North and South for support); Canada (several sites used by Confederate operatives); France (USS Kearsarge vs. CSS Alabama); Gibraltar (Confederate ship Sumter visit); European nations (visited by agents of the North and South to acquire arms and support); Great Britain (provided latest technology screw steamers for use as commerce raiders); Brasil; Cuba; Bermuda; Ascension Island (today’s Pohnpei, the only Kingdom to recognize Confederate States of America).
    Although South Australia has no known connection to the Civil War, the neighboring state of Victoria witnessed the January 1865 visit of CSS Shenandoah. Over forty “Australians” joined the crew of that commerce raider upon her departure in February 1865.

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