Educational worksheet on the Oregon Trail, asking students to color U.S. states based on when they joined the Union in the 1700s, 1800s, and 1900s.

This worksheet from *Surviving the Oregon Trail* is an educational activity designed to help students learn about U.S. history, geography, and the timeline of state admissions into the Union. The task involves coloring a map of the United States based on when each state joined the Union.

---

Objective:

Color the states on the map according to the century in which they joined the United States:

- Green: States that formed the original 13 colonies (joined in the 1700s)
- Red: States that joined in the 1800s
- Blue: States that joined in the 1900s

---

Step-by-Step Solution:

#### Step 1: Identify the 13 Original States (Green)
These are the 13 colonies that declared independence in 1776 and were admitted to the Union in the 1700s.

From the list:
- Delaware – December 7, 1787
- Pennsylvania – December 12, 1787
- New Jersey – December 18, 1787
- Georgia – January 2, 1788
- Connecticut – January 9, 1788
- Massachusetts – February 6, 1788
- Maryland – April 28, 1788
- South Carolina – May 23, 1788
- New Hampshire – June 21, 1788
- Virginia – June 25, 1788
- New York – July 26, 1788
- North Carolina – November 21, 1789
- Rhode Island – May 29, 1790

✔ These 13 states should be colored green.

> Note: Vermont (1791), Kentucky (1792), Tennessee (1796) joined after 1788 but still in the 1700s — so they also belong in green.

Wait! Let's double-check:

- Vermont – March 4, 1791 → 1700s → ✔ Green
- Kentucky – June 1, 1792 → 1700s → ✔ Green
- Tennessee – June 1, 1796 → 1700s → ✔ Green

So total 16 states joined in the 1700s.

✔ Green States (1700s):
- Delaware
- Pennsylvania
- New Jersey
- Georgia
- Connecticut
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- South Carolina
- New Hampshire
- Virginia
- New York
- North Carolina
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Kentucky
- Tennessee

(That’s 16 states.)

---

#### Step 2: States that joined in the 1800s (Red)

These are all states with admission dates between January 1, 1801, and December 31, 1899.

From the list:
- Ohio – March 1, 1803
- Louisiana – April 30, 1812
- Indiana – December 11, 1816
- Mississippi – December 10, 1817
- Illinois – December 3, 1818
- Alabama – December 14, 1819
- Maine – March 15, 1820
- Missouri – August 10, 1821
- Arkansas – June 15, 1836
- Michigan – January 26, 1837
- Florida – March 3, 1845
- Texas – December 29, 1845
- Iowa – December 28, 1846
- Wisconsin – May 29, 1848
- California – September 9, 1850
- Minnesota – May 11, 1858
- Oregon – February 14, 1859
- Kansas – January 29, 1861
- West Virginia – June 20, 1863
- Nevada – October 31, 1864
- Nebraska – March 1, 1867
- Colorado – August 1, 1876
- North Dakota – November 2, 1889
- South Dakota – November 2, 1889
- Montana – November 8, 1889
- Washington – November 11, 1889
- Idaho – July 3, 1890
- Wyoming – July 10, 1890
- Utah – January 4, 1896

✔ All these states join in the 1800s → Color them red

Total: 28 states

---

#### Step 3: States that joined in the 1900s (Blue)

These are states admitted from January 1, 1900, to December 31, 1999.

From the list:
- Oklahoma – November 16, 1907
- New Mexico – January 6, 1912
- Arizona – February 14, 1912
- Alaska – January 3, 1959
- Hawaii – August 21, 1959

✔ These 5 states joined in the 1900s → Color them blue

---

Final Coloring Guide:

| Color | Century | States |
|------|--------|--------|
| Green | 1700s | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee |
| Red | 1800s | Ohio, Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri, Arkansas, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Kansas, West Virginia, Nevada, Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah |
| Blue | 1900s | Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii |

---

How to Complete the Worksheet:

1. Use a reference map or print one showing the names of the states.
2. Locate each state on the blank map.
3. Color each state accordingly:
- Green for original 13 + Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee
- Red for all states admitted in the 1800s
- Blue for states admitted in the 1900s

---

Educational Takeaway:

This activity helps students visualize:
- The expansion of the United States over time
- The chronological development of the nation
- How the country grew westward from the original 13 colonies

It combines history (statehood dates), geography (map skills), and critical thinking (categorizing by time period).

---

✔ Answer Summary:
- Green (1700s): 16 states (original 13 + Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee)
- Red (1800s): 28 states
- Blue (1900s): 5 states (Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, Hawaii)

Now you can color the map correctly using this guide!