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Places That Should Be States?

Places That Should Be States?

Why aren't places like Puerto Rico considered a State?

States Should Places

In addition to the 50 states and the District of Columbia America does have a few territories, which are more like colonies, but we don't use the dreaded c word.

They are Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. I personally don't see why these territories are not included in the USA board, because they are part of it.

Getting back to your question, Puerto Rico, was once given a choice in a plebscite, remain a territory, become independent or become the 51st State. Puerto Ricans decided to remain a territory.

And by the way, several states in the West were once territories.

Places That Should Be States? History & Civil Business Politics

I've researched this a little bit and found out some very interesting things. The territories mentioned by Yellowknife are islands (or groups of islands), and each is economically less developed than any State of the United States. They are all governed under a different political arrangement and none enjoys full participation in the national political life of the United States. The reason is, with the exception of Puerto Rico, the territories lack land mass and population.

The residents of the territories enjoy U.S. citizenship and nationality, nonvoting delegates to the U.S. House of Representatives, guarantees of fundamental freedoms and local self-government, access to the national court system, favorable tax treatment, trade advantages, and the availability of national services and benefit programs. Territories & Commonwealths of the United States

Edited: Valla on 1st Jul, 2006 - 12:21am

States Should Places

Yes, however, there are unihabitated territories of the USA, and I consider Guantanamo Bay, as a territory of the USA.


Those unihabitated territories:

Howland Island, Navassa, Kingman Reef, Wake Island, Midway Islands.

States Should Places

The Midway Islands are inhabited, and as for Guantanamo Bay the land is leased to the US by Cuba.

Places That Should Be States?

The US Invasion of Puerto Rico is covered in this Thread.

Places Should States

Ummm hate to break it to you but we do not have 50 states. I believe Pennsylvania and Maryland are commonwealths not states.

Places Should States Politics Business Civil & History

Actually the commonwealth states are Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It seems to be just a fancy designation, I do not see any difference on how these places are run.