What Was the Last State to Join the US?

Hawaii was the last state(50th state) to join the US on August 21, 1959, following Alaska that became the 49th US state on January 3, 1959. It took six decades for Hawaii to join as a US state. At present, the US has 50 states. Washington D.C. became a federal district under the authority of Congress. Read on to find Hawaii’s fascinating history from monarchy to statehood.

93% of the voters approved the proposal of admitting Hawaii as a state. On March 18, 1959, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Hawaii Admission Act admitting Hawaii as the 50th US state. After that, the American flag was altered to feature 50 stars arranged in staggered rows. The new US flag was introduced on July 4 1960.

When Did the Us Become Interested in Hawaii?

The United States had an eye on Hawaii as early as the 1820s when British missionaries tried to spread their faith and culture. Americans acquired the Island because of the sugar trade.

Before being admitted as a state, Hawaii was a kingdom till 1893. In 1894 Hawaii became a republic. The United States bought Alaska for the value of $7,200,000 in 1867. Earlier, it was a Russian colony from 1744.

Hawaii Became 50th US state

For a long time, Hawaii was ruled by a monarchy. From King Kamehameha to Queen Lili’oukalani, several kings and queens governed the islands until 1894.

Polynesian voyagers were known as the first settlers of the Hawaiian Islands who came in the 18th century. 

At the beginning of the 18th century, American traders arrived in Hawaii to use the island’s sandalwood which was expensive in China at the time. The sugar industry was established in Hawaii in the 1830s.

A group of American expatriates and sugar planters forced Queen Liliuokalani, the last reigning monarch of Hawaii to give up her throne in 1893. 

After one year, the Republic of Hawaii was founded and Hawaiian-born Sanford B. Dole became inaugurated as the first president of the republic. People in Congress were against the formal annexation of Hawaii. Two years later, Hawaii became a formal US territory.

During World War II, Hawaii became the American national identity after the surprise Japanese assault on Pearl Harbor in December 1941.

Take our enjoyable quiz about the last state to join the USA to expand your history knowledge.