Our country began with thirteen states along the Atlantic. As pioneers moved west, new states joined, one at a time.
Key idea
Today there are 50 states. The first was Delaware, in 1787. The last two, Alaska and Hawaii, joined in 1959.
Why it works
When enough people lived in a new place, they could ask Congress to let them become a state. Each state has its own government and its own capital city, where its leaders work. Texas's capital is Austin, and California's is Sacramento. When a new state joined, a new star went on the flag.
Common mistake
Some children think all 50 states joined at once, or that Alaska and Hawaii were first because they are on the edge of the map. States joined one at a time, from 1787 to 1959. Alaska and Hawaii were the last.
For the grown-up: Find your state on the tile map. When did it join, and what is its capital? Alaska is the largest state; Hawaii is made of islands in the Pacific Ocean.