Growing Into a State
Aligned to C3.D2.His.3 — C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Most states began as a territory before joining the country. As more people moved in, the region grew, faced conflicts and hard choices, and finally wrote a constitution and asked to become a state.
Worked example
A territory might build roads, railroads, and towns, then hold a vote and send leaders to write a state constitution. Once Congress approved it, the territory officially became a new state with its own government.
Practice questions
- What is a territory, and how is it different from a state?
- Explain the main steps a territory took to become a state.
- Why do you think a growing territory needed its own constitution and government before becoming a state?
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Convertirse en Estado
La mayoría de los estados empezaron como un territorio antes de unirse al país. A medida que llegaba más gente, la región creció, enfrentó conflictos y decisiones difíciles, y por fin escribió una constitución y pidió convertirse en estado.
Ejemplo: Un territorio podía construir caminos, ferrocarriles y pueblos, luego hacer una votación y enviar líderes a escribir una constitución estatal. Una vez que el Congreso la aprobaba, el territorio se convertía oficialmente en un nuevo estado con su propio gobierno.
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