Starting with the history of the United States that will carry through the 21stCentury

 Establishment of the 13 States

The 13 states were officially established by the Articles of Confederation, ratified on March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states operating alongside a weak central government. Unlike the current power-sharing system of “federalism,” the Articles of Confederation bestowed most governmental powers to the states. The need for a stronger national government soon became apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.

The original 13 states recognized by the Articles of Confederation were (in chronological order):

1. Delaware (ratified the Constitution on December 7, 1787)
2. Pennsylvania (ratified the Constitution on December 12, 1787)
3. New Jersey (ratified the Constitution on December 18, 1787)
4. Georgia (ratified the Constitution on January 2, 1788)
5. Connecticut (ratified the Constitution on January 9, 1788)
6. Massachusetts (ratified the Constitution on February 6, 1788)
7. Maryland (ratified the Constitution on April 28, 1788)
8. South Carolina (ratified the Constitution on May 23, 1788)
9. New Hampshire (ratified the Constitution on June 21, 1788)
10. Virginia (ratified the Constitution on June 25, 1788)
11. New York (ratified the Constitution on July 26, 1788)
12. North Carolina (ratified the Constitution on November 21, 1789)
13. Rhode Island (ratified the Constitution on May 29, 1790