Pathways from Organized Territory to Statehood: Examples from the 19th Century (1803–1890)

1. Northwest Ordinance outlines U.S. territorial statehood pathway

   Jul 13, 1787Labels: Northwest Ordinance

   • Natl Archives

2. Wisconsin Territory becomes an organized U.S. territory

   Jul 3, 1836Labels: Wisconsin Territory

   • Wisconsin Terr
   • Congress CRS

3. Iowa Territory organized from Wisconsin Territory lands

   Jul 3, 1838Labels: Iowa Territory

   • Congress CRS
   • Iowa Terr

4. Iowa admitted as the 29th U.S. state

   Dec 28, 1846Labels: Iowa statehood

   • Congress CRS
   • UPI

5. Wisconsin admitted as the 30th U.S. state

   May 29, 1848Labels: Wisconsin statehood

   • Wisconsin Hist
   • LOC Today

6. Minnesota Territory organized to end regional "no man’s land"

   Mar 3, 1849Labels: Minnesota Territory

   • MN SOS
   • LOC

7. Minnesota admitted as the 32nd U.S. state

   May 11, 1858Labels: Minnesota statehood

   • MN SOS
   • House Divided

8. Dakota Territory created by Organic Act

   Mar 2, 1861Labels: Dakota Territory

   • Congress CRS
   • SHSND Docs

9. Homestead Act accelerates settlement in organized territories

   May 20, 1862Labels: Homestead Act

   • Natl Archives
   • LOC Today

10. Wyoming Territory carved from Dakota, Idaho, and Utah

    Jul 25, 1868Labels: Wyoming Territory

    • Wyo Gov
    • US Senate

11. Enabling Act authorizes Dakota’s division and state constitutions

    Feb 22, 1889Labels: Enabling Act

    • Enabling Act
    • SHSND Conv

12. North Dakota and South Dakota admitted to the Union

    Nov 2, 1889Labels: North Dakota, South Dakota

    • Presidency
    • LOC Today