The United States currently has 50 states, and it has had 50 states for the last 65 years, but President George Washington died nearly 225 years ago, therefore, he never witnessed the admission of all 50 states. The greatest number of states that George Washington ever saw was 16.
I was recently pondering this idea when I asked the question: how many states existed at the beginning and end of each president’s life? Maybe this seems trivial to most, but I am often wanting to see the United States through the eyes of the ones who built it. I am always brought to an inexplicable state of awe and reverence whenever I gain a glimpse into the lives and minds of the Founding Fathers, and to see how the United States looked during their lives is a glimpse into the United States in which they lived.
Let’s look at a map of how the United States looked during the beginning and end of each president’s life, from George Washington to Franklin Roosevelt (each president after Franklin Roosevelt witnessed the United States with all 50 states).
1. George Washington (1732-1799)
When Washington was born, there were 12 colonies, and when he died, there were 16 states.
Washington was the oldest of all presidents.
2. John Adams (1735-1826)
When Adams was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 24 states.
Adams was the earliest president to live beyond the 18th century.
3. Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)
When Jefferson was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 24 states.
4. James Madison (1751-1836)
When Madison was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 25 states.
5. James Monroe (1758-1831)
When Monroe was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 24 states.
6. John Quincy Adams (1767-1848)
When Adams was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 29 states.
7. Andrew Jackson (1767-1845)
When Jackson was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 27 states.
8. Martin Van Buren (1782-1862)
When Van Buren was born, there were 13 states, and when he died, there were 34 states.
Van Buren was the earliest president born after the colonial era and the earliest to witness the Civil War.
9. William Henry Harrison (1773-1841)
When Harrison was born, there were 13 colonies, and when he died, there were 26 states.
10. John Tyler (1790-1862)
When Tyler was born, there were 13 states, and when he died, there were 34 states.
Tyler was the earliest president born after the Revolutionary War; as of the publishing of this post, John Tyler still has one living grandson: Harrison Ruffin Tyler.
11. James K. Polk (1795-1849)
When Polk was born, there were 15 states, and when he died, there were 30 states.
12. Zachary Taylor (1784-1850)
When Taylor was born, there were 13 states, and when he died, there were 30 states.
13. Millard Fillmore (1800-1874)
When Fillmore was born, there were 16 states, and when he died, there were 37 states.
Fillmore was the earliest president born in the 19th century.
14. Franklin Pierce (1804-1869)
When Pierce was born, there were 17 states, and when he died, there were 37 states.
15. James Buchanan (1791-1868)
When Buchanan was born, there were 14 states, and when he died, there were 37 states.
Buchanan was the latest president born in the 18th century.
16. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
When Lincoln was born, there were 17 states, and when he died, there were 36 states.
17. Andrew Johnson (1808-1875)
When Johnson was born, there were 17 states, and when he died, there were 37 states.
18. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)
When Grant was born, there were 24 states, and when he died, there were 38 states.
Grant was the earliest president born after the War of 1812.
19. Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893)
When Hayes was born, there were 24 states, and when he died, there were 44 states.
20. James A. Garfield (1831-1881)
When Garfield was born, there were 24 states, and when he died, there were 38 states.
21. Chester A. Arthur (1829-1886)
When Arthur was born, there were 24 states, and when he died, there were 38 states.
22 & 24. Grover Cleveland (1837-1908)
When Cleveland was born, there were 26 states, and when he died, there were 46 states.
Cleveland was the earliest president to witness the 20th century.
23. Benjamin Harrison (1833-1901)
When Harrison was born, there were 24 states, and when he died, there were 45 states.
25. William McKinley (1843-1901)
When McKinley was born, there were 26 states, and when he died, there were 45 states.
26. Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919)
When Roosevelt was born, there were 32 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
Roosevelt was the earliest president to witness World War I.
27. William Howard Taft (1857-1930)
When Taft was born, there were 31 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
28. Woodrow Wilson (1856-1924)
When Wilson was born, there were 31 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
29. Warren G. Harding (1865-1923)
When Harding was born, there were 36 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
Harding was the earliest president born after the Civil War.
30. Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933)
When Coolidge was born, there were 37 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
31. Herbert Hoover (1874-1964)
When Hoover was born, there were 37 states, and when he died, there were 50 states.
Hoover was the earliest president to witness World War II, the Korean War, a portion of the Vietnam War, and the admission of the 50th state.
32. Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945)
When Roosevelt was born, there were 38 states, and when he died, there were 48 states.
In your opinion, which president’s lifetime saw the most interesting territorial change?
Onward American 