Have you ever considered how the United States’ boundaries have expanded and how the appearance of the nation has changed over time as the number of states increased? Maybe you have, especially if you have been reading this blog for some time, but I’m guessing most people don’t know how the nation looked throughout most of its years; not even I was aware of the way in which the United States expanded its territory until a few years ago.
To demonstrate the vast territorial changes that have occurred in the United States’ history, I have made a short video that depicts each state as they would have appeared on the 31st of December for each year, from 1776 to 2015. During the years 1861 through 1865, I opted to include the 11 states that seceded from the United States and formed the Confederate States; this way, you can see the unique state flags which they had adopted. It is neither wrong to include the Confederate States with the United States nor to exclude them, since they did secede from the Union and their congressional districts were expelled from Congress, but the war the United States fought with the Confederate States is called the Civil War, which technically means they were part of the same nation.
I have only overlayed official state flags on the states for the given year, besides the de facto flag of Georgia from 1861 to 1865. Interestingly, it appears that it wasn’t until 1893 to 1918 that most states began adopting and updating their state flags. It also appears that Nebraska was the last state to adopt its first official state flag in 1963, a full 96 years after it became a state!
I find it interesting to see the order in which the new stated were admitted, how the flags were adopted and slightly modernized over time, and how some of the thirteen, original states changed their boundaries.
Which year is your favorite in the nation’s history? What makes that year special?
Onward American 🇺🇸
Source: Territorial Evolution of the United States
Source: Flags of the US States
Credit to Enzwell on Wikipedia for making Flag of the State of Maine.svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Credit to Zscout370 on Wikipedia for making Flag of Arkansas (1913–1923).svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Credit to Zscout370 on Wikipedia for making Flag of Arkansas (1923).svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Credit to Colohisto on Wikipedia for making Flag of Colorado (1876–1907).svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Credit to Tcfc2349 on Wikipedia for making Flag of Florida (1868–1900).svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Credit to RoyFocker 12 on Wikipedia for making Flag of Massachusetts (1908–1971).svg. I have not altered this artwork other than overlaying it on my map. View license here.
Onward American 