Study Notes: A Brief History of the 50 States
From America: The Story of the USA by Liam Heffernan
January 30, 2026 · 5 min · Episode 133
About this episode
This episode explains the history and process of how the United States expanded from 13 states to 50.
America: Study Notes are quickfire explainers for all the things you want to know about the USA, but don't want to ask. This week, A Brief History of the 50 States . I’ll explain how the United States grew from the 13 original states into the 50 states we have today, explaining the legal process of admission, major land acquisitions, political forces that shaped statehood, and the final additions of Alaska and Hawaii. . Contact us: america@podcastsbyliam.com Join the community: https://www.patreon.com/cw/americathestoryoftheusa - use code USA26 for 50% off your first month Get the newsletter: https://america-the-story-of-the-usa.beehiiv.com/ Brand & advertising enquiries : liam@mercurypodcasts.com
People in this episode
Host: Liam Heffernan
Topics covered
- history
- statehood
- land acquisitions
- political forces
- USA
Keywords
- 50 states
- history of states
- state admission
- land acquisitions
- political forces
Sponsors
Patreon
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: America: The Story of the USA
Places: United States, Alaska, Hawaii, 13 original states
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