General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums12 Proposed U.S. States That Didn't Make the Cut
Four regions have been proposed as the State of Jefferson. The first was west of Kansas Territory in 1859. Mining communities in the Rocky Mountains came together and requested the formation of their own potential state, called Jefferson. The Kansas government agreed, setting its proposed borders east of Jeffersons. Citizens of Jefferson could not agree on a constitution, however, so it became Jefferson Territory (later Colorado Territory) instead.
The second and third were both located in Texas. As part of its admittance into the United States, Texas could agree to split itself into as many as four states. In 1870, southeastern Texas, from the San Antonio River onward, was proposed as Jefferson, with other region-states to follow. The idea was never taken very seriously. Later, in 1915, Jefferson plans re-emerged, but in western Texas instead. Only six state senators approved of the idea, and it, too, failed.
The fourth, a mix of counties from northern California and southern Oregon, was proposed in 1941. Supporters in the area marched with guns, passing out flyers proclaiming secession. Their movement was overshadowed by the attacks on Pearl Harbor and mostly faded away. Some, however, still propose an expanded Jefferson even today.
3. SUPERIOR
As one of the only non-island U.S. states with two distinct landmasses, it makes sense that citizens of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (frequently referred to as yoopers) would consider splitting off from the "glove" "mitten" part of the state.It has been proposed on a number of occasions, usually with the proposed state being called Superior (for Lake Superior), though other names such as Sylvania (preferred by Thomas Jefferson) and Ontonagon have also been mentioned.In fact, the idea has been brought forth as recently as this year. In April, murmurs of upper peninsula secession bubbled up once again after debates over Michigan tax laws.
Read the full text here: http://mentalfloss.com/article/12641/12-proposed-us-states-didnt-make-cut#ixzz2ZKTvzals
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KamaAina
(78,249 posts)"Yoopers" refer to residents of lower Michigan as "trolls", because trolls live under the bridge, get it?
Also worthy of note: Nantucket didn't actually try to form its own state, but when it lost its Mass. state legislator, it seriously considered joining Vermont.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)in any given year.
Cirque du So-What
(25,988 posts)I know that Texas had the ability to split into five individual states upon admission to the Union, but I've also read suggestions that Texas retained that right even after admission. It would wreak havoc in the Senate if five little Texases sent eight additional senators to Washington - assuming, as I do, that the 'pugs would make sure that those five states would be gerrymandered to hell & back in order to preserve conservative majorities in each one.
octoberlib
(14,971 posts)Now if at least 3 of them were blue , I'd go for it.
Cirque du So-What
(25,988 posts)Janet Leigh in the shower scene of Psycho is apropos for such a situation...if it actually occurred, that is.
On edit: when the former Soviet Union dissolved and became the Commonwealth of Independent States, each separate republic sent a new delegate to the United Nations. Granted, the UN is much more toothless than the US Senate, but it still gave greater influence to the former USSR.
madamesilverspurs
(15,809 posts)I'll be sending this to my county commissioners, the very ones who want to make a 51st state out of northeastern Colorado.
Thanks!