51st state

A U.S. 51 star flag has been designed in case of a 51st state actually joining the United States. The flag has been used as a symbol by supporters of statehood in various communities of both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens.

51st state, in American political discourse, is a phrase that refers to territories considered candidates for addition to the fifty states already part of the Union. Before 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii joined the U.S., the term "the 49th state" was used. Less often, "51st state" refers to countries which are, or are perceived to be, under U.S. control or influence. For example, the 1986 single "Heartland" by The The contains a repeated refrain that "this [the UK] is the 51st state of the USA."

The term is used in Canada and other countries to signify negative U.S. influence viewed as excessive. In Australia and Europe, (perhaps most significantly in the UK), people who believe their local and/or national culture has become too Americanized sometimes use the term "51st state" in critical reference to their respective countries. The pejorative term 51st stater usually refers to non-U.S. residents who emulate mannerisms and culture of an American, or a non-American politician who is a supporter of the United States, especially its foreign policy, to an excessive degree.

Potential candidates

Under Article IV, Section Three of the United States Constitution, which outlines the relationship between the states, the Congress has the power to admit new states to the union. The states are required to give "full faith and credit" to the acts of each other's legislatures and courts, which is generally held to include the recognition of legal contracts, marriages, and criminal judgments. The states are guaranteed military and civil defense by the federal government, which is also obligated by Article IV, Section Four, to "guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government". New states are admitted into the Union by the precedents and procedures established by the Northwest Ordinance. Following the precedent established by the Enabling Act of 1802, an Enabling Act must be passed by Congress as a prerequisite to admission. The act authorizes the people of a territory to frame a constitution, and lays down the requirements that must be met prior to consideration for statehood. It is worth noting that the history of efforts to promote into statehood Puerto Rico or the District of Columbia, (as well as the history of the now long-ago successful acceptance into statehood of the former territories of Hawaii and Alaska) have shown that political enthusiasm of Congress, or of the states, to admit a territory of limited population that is or was a Federal territory into statehood has been subdued for more than a half of a century.

Puerto Rico

See also: commonwealth (U.S. insular area), Politics of Puerto Rico, and U.S. state

Puerto Rican statehood referendums have been consistently, though narrowly, unsuccessful. In each referendum, statehood supporters are matched almost equally by supporters of maintaining the status quo (the balance of the votes being cast by supporters of full independence), although support for statehood has risen in each successive popular referendum. If Puerto Rico were a state, it would rank 27th in population, and have six seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Puerto Rico currently has limited representation in the U.S. Congress in the form of a Resident Commissioner, a nonvoting delegate, and the current Congress had returned the Commissioner's power to vote in the Committee of the Whole, but not on matters where the vote would represent a decisive participation. Puerto Rico does participate in the internal political process of both the Democratic and Republican parties in the U.S., accorded equal-proportional representation in both parties, and delegates from the islands vote in each party's national convention; although presidential electors is not granted on the United States Electoral College.

Residents of Puerto Rico pay U.S. federal taxes: import/export taxes, federal commodity taxes, social security taxes, etc. Most residents do not pay federal income tax but pay federal payroll taxes (Social Security and Medicare), and Puerto Rico income taxes. But federal employees, or those who do business with the federal government, Puerto Rico-based corporations that intend to send funds to the U.S. and others also pay federal income taxes.

Puerto Ricans may enlist in the U.S. military. Since becoming United States citizens in 1917, Puerto Ricans have been included in the compulsory draft whenever it has been in effect. President George H.W. Bush issued a memorandum on November 30, 1992, to heads of executive departments and agencies establishing the current administrative relationship between the Federal Government and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This memorandum directs all Federal departments, agencies, and officials to treat Puerto Rico administratively as if it were a State insofar as doing so would not disrupt Federal programs or operations.

On December 23, 2000, President William J. Clinton signed executive Order 13183, which established the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status and the rules for its membership. Section 4 of executive Order 13183 (as amended by executive Order 13319) directs the Task Force to “report on its actions to the President … on progress made in the determination of Puerto Rico’s ultimate status.” The statehood position is carried by the New Progressive Party of Puerto Rico.

The Republican Party 2004 Platform indicate the following: "We support the right of the United States citizens of Puerto Rico to be admitted to the Union as a fully sovereign state after they freely so determine. We recognize that Congress has the final authority to define the Constitutionally valid options for Puerto Rico to achieve a permanent non-territorial status with government by consent and full enfranchisement. As long as Puerto Rico is not a state, however, the will of its people regarding their political status should be ascertained by means of a general right of referendum or specific referenda sponsored by the United States government.

The Democratic Party 2004 Platform indicates the following: "We believe that four million disenfranchised American citizens residing in Puerto Rico have the right to the permanent and fully democratic status of their choice. The White House and Congress will clarify the realistic status options for Puerto Rico and enable Puerto Ricans to choose among them".

Its population in the 2000 census was 3,927,776. (Kentucky ranked 26th, with 4,206,074, and Oregon ranked 27th, with 3,700,758.)

See also: List of U.S. states by population

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Location	Population	Area (sq. mi.)	Comments
Puerto Rico	3,994,259	3,514	July 2007 estimate
United States Virgin Islands	112,000	133.73	July 2005 estimate
Total	4,106,259	3,647.73	Puerto Rico & U.S. Virgin Islands

District of Columbia

File:Dctaxation.jpg

"Taxation without representation", printed on D.C. license plates in protest.

Main article: D.C. Statehood

The District of Columbia is often mentioned as a likely candidate for statehood. In his The Federalist No. 43, James Madison considered the implications of the definition of the "seat of government" found in the U.S. Constitution. Although he noted potential conflicts of interest, and the need for a "municipal legislature for local purposes," Madison did not address the district's role in national voting. At the time, some believed that giving the district full voting rights would be like giving Congress its own separate vote, increasing their power at the expense of the citizens. However, the city's population has grown to almost 600,000 people (larger than Wyoming's and comparable to those of several other states), and the calls for suffrage have increased.

Of the potential candidates, citizens of the District of Columbia tend to be most supportive of statehood, yet this would likely require amendment of the United States Constitution. D.C. residents who support this movement sometimes use the Revolutionary War protest motto "Taxation without representation", denoting their lack of Congressional representation; the phrase is now printed on newly issued D.C. license plates (although a driver may choose to have the D.C. website address instead). President Bill Clinton's presidential limousine had the "Taxation without representation" license plate late in his term, while President George W. Bush had the vehicle's plates changed shortly after beginning his term in office.

This position was carried by the D.C. Statehood Party, a minor party; it has since merged with the local Green Party affiliate to form the D.C. Statehood Green Party. The nearest this movement ever came to success was in 1978, when Congress passed the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment. Two years later in 1980, local citizens passed an initiative calling for a constitutional convention for a new state. In 1982, voters ratified the constitution of the state, which was to be called New Columbia. The drive for statehood stalled in 1985, however, when the D.C. Voting Rights Amendment failed because not enough states ratified the amendment within the seven-year span specified.

Statehood will likely remain a highly contentious political issue due to the political demographics of the city. D.C. has long voted overwhelmingly Democratic, and the addition of another state would likely guarantee two Democratic Senators in a closely divided U.S. Senate.

Another proposed option would be to have Maryland, from which the current land was ceded, retake the District of Columbia, as Virginia has already done for its part. This would give D.C. residents the benefit of statehood while precluding the creation of a 51st state.

Other/former U.S. territories

File:PACIFICA2.JPG

A hypothetical merging of several former and current Pacific US territories into a single state.

Other less likely contenders are Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, both of which are unincorporated organized territories of the United States, although the latter could merge with Puerto Rico due to its close proximity. Also the Northern Mariana Islands, which is a commonwealth like Puerto Rico, and American Samoa, an unorganized, unincorporated territory could attempt to gain statehood. Some proposals call for the Virgin Islands to be admitted with Puerto Rico as one state (often known as the proposed "Commonwealth of Prusvi", for Puerto Rico/U.S. Virgin Islands), and for the amalgamation of U.S territories or former territories in the Pacific Ocean, in the manner of the "Greater Hawaii" concept of the 1960s. Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands would be admitted as one state, along with Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands. Such a state would have a population of 506,040 (slightly lower than Wyoming's population) and an area of 988.65 square miles (slightly smaller than Rhode Island). American Samoa could possibly be part of such a state, or even become a county of Hawaii if American Samoa no longer wished to be a territory.

Location	Population	Area (sq. mi.)	Comments
Palau	19,907	177	July 2005 estimate
Northern Mariana Islands	80,801	184.17	July 2005 estimate
Marshall Islands	61,963	69.8	July 2005 estimate
Guam	170,000	209.85	July 2006 estimate
Federated States of Micronesia	108,500	271	July 2006 estimate
Subtotal	441,171	911.82	Former Trust Territories + Guam
American Samoa	64,869	76.83	July 2006 estimate
Total	506,040	988.65	Former Trust Territories + American Pacific

From current U.S. states

Main article: List of U.S. state secession proposals

It is constitutionally possible for new states to be formed by reorganizing current states with the permission of their legislatures.

• On January 15, 2008, Utah State Representative Neal Hendrickson introduced a joint resolution consenting to the creation of a new state. The proposed resolution - intended to be sent to the U.S. Congress - would support secession of all lands south of the Utah County border to create the new state.
• Though now nearly forgotten, the California State Senate voted on June 4, 1965 to divide California into two states, with the Tehachapi Mountains as the boundary. Sponsored by State Senator Richard J. Dolwig (D-San Mateo), the resolution proposed to separate the 7 southern counties, with a majority of the state's population, from the 51 other counties, and passed 27-12. To be effective, the amendment would have needed approval by the State Assembly, by California voters, and by the United States Congress. As expected by Dolwig, the proposal did not get out of committee in the Assembly. A previous proposal to this effect was advanced in 1860, but was tabled due to the American Civil War and never revived. It is unlikely that such a separation would take place in the modern day, due to issues such as control and ownership of the California Aqueduct.
• The state of Maine was part of Massachusetts up until the passing of the Missouri Compromise in 1820.
• The state of West Virginia was formed during the Civil War by counties in northwestern Virginia that had remained loyal to the United States.
• One proposal has been for New York City to secede from New York State (See New York City secession), which has been reciprocated by a call for Upstate New York to secede (See Upstate New York's Statehood Movement). Some have even considered having Long Island become its own state.
• A similar circumstance has been proposed with the secession of Chicago from Illinois since over a half of the population of Illinois resides in the metropolitan area. A variation of this was called Chiwaukee, which would be the strip of land from Milwaukee down to Gary, Indiana.
• Historically, it was possible that the counties of southern Oregon and northern California might have seceded from their respective states to form a new "State of Jefferson". Jefferson would then have been the 49th state, making Alaska and Hawaii the 50th and 51st when they became states in 1959.
• Also there have been brief calls for a 51st state named the State of Lincoln in 1996, 1999, and 2005. The state would be made of Eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle.
• In 1784, residents of what is now eastern Tennessee voted to organize the region as a new state to be named "Franklin" and petitioned Congress for admission to the Union. Congress never acted on the petition, and when North Carolina—which had once claimed the Tennessee country (the territory now comprising Tennessee) and had then ceded it to central government of the U.S.—acted to reclaim the region, the government of "Franklin" soon collapsed. In 1790, North Carolina again ceded the Tennessee country, including the former Franklin, to the central government; the entire Tennessee country was later (1796) admitted to the union as the State of Tennessee.
• Similar junctions have attempted to take place in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, which some wish to secede (sometimes along with adjoining counties of northern Wisconsin) in order to make a state called "Superior".

State of Riviera, a proposed state in the Colorado River Valley region to encompass three western Arizona counties of La Paz created in 1982 after a separation from Yuma County, Arizona also in the future state and Mohave, and the eastern parts (about one-third) of Riverside where the future state capital Blythe, California sits at, San Bernardino which is the largest county in the US about 20,650 sq. miles (about 4,500 sq. miles are in the proposed state) and all of Imperial regarded as the fastest growing rural county in the U.S. The proposed state's main cities are Yuma, Arizona (the most populous with 66,000 people), Lake Havasu City, Arizona, Kingman, Arizona, Needles, California, Brawley, California, El Centro, California and Calexico, California on the US-Mexican border adjacent to Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico, and the projected total population of this proposed state is 500,000.

Use internationally

Because of their cultural similarities and close alliances with the United States, it is said in jest that some countries are the 51st state. In other countries, movements with various degrees of support and seriousness have proposed U.S. statehood.

Albania

Albania is often cited as the 51st state due to its perceived strongly pro-USA positions. In reference to President George W. Bush's 2007 European tour, Edi Rama, Tirana's mayor and leader of the opposition Socialists, said: "Albania is for sure the most pro-American country in Europe, maybe even in the world ... Nowhere else can you find such respect and hospitality for the President of the United States. Even in Michigan, he wouldn't be as welcome". At the time of ex-Secretary of State James Baker's visit in 1991, there was even a move to hold a referendum declaring the country as America's 51st state.

Canada

In Canada, "the 51st state" (or sometimes "the Maple Leaf state") is an emotional trigger phrase generally used in such a way as to imply that if a certain political course is taken, Canada's destiny will be to become "the 51st state".

Becoming "the 51st state" is usually raised either as a potential consequence of adopting policies that propose greater integration or cooperation with the United States (such as Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement in 1988, or the current debate over the creation of a common defense perimeter), or as a potential consequence of not adopting proposals intended to resolve the issue of Quebec sovereignty (such as the Charlottetown Accord in 1992, or the Clarity Act in 1999.)

The phrase is usually used in local political debates, in polemic writing or in private conversations. It is rarely used by politicians themselves in a public context, although at certain times in Canadian history political parties have used other similarly loaded imagery. For example, in the 1988 federal election, the anti-Free Trade Liberals ran an ad in which Tory strategists, upon the adoption of the agreement, slowly erased the Canada-U.S. border from a desktop map of North America. Within days, however, the Tories responded with an ad which featured the border being drawn back on, as an announcer intoned "Here's where we draw the line." It should also be noted that the 1988 Free Trade Agreement was implemented, followed by the passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement of 1993, and the Charlottetown Accord failed, although to date none of these events have resulted in Canadian annexation by the United States as was alleged during the respective debates.

Percent of population in each region who supported U.S. annexation in a 2001 survey, represented in blue on the pie charts.

A few fringe groups in Canada have actively campaigned in favor of joining the United States. These annexationist movements have not attracted much mainstream attention, although perhaps as many as one in five Canadians may support the idea.

In the United States, use of the term "the 51st state" when applied to Canada can serve as either a positive or negative reference, depending on the context. In some circumstances, the term is used from a U.S. perspective to highlight the similarities and close relationship between Canada and the United States. However, the term is most often taken as an insult. Interestingly, the Articles of Confederation pre-approved Canada's entry into the United States of America.

Alberta

See also: Alberta separatism and Jesusland map

Alberta is occasionally referred to as "Canada's Texas"; the two share similarities in terms of conservative social values and an economy defined by petroleum extraction and processing. A number of Albertans have expressed dissatisfaction at Canada's policies towards the province, particularly with regards to national energy policy and equalization payments. Some Albertans accuse Canada of stealing money from the province's vast oil reserves to distribute to the rest of the country; however the distribution of windfall provincial earnings as equalization payments to most provinces is standard practise, and all provinces except Ontario have been the recipient of this funding at some point in time, including Alberta. An August 2005 poll commissioned by the Western Standard pegged support for the idea that "Western Canadians should begin to explore the idea of forming their own country" at 42% in Alberta and 35.6% across the four Western provinces, though some people have claimed that the Western Standard's poll question was too vague to be used for determining support for secession. However, a 2001 poll conducted by Leger Marketing showed support for annexation by the United States to be lower in Alberta than in any other province of Canada.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island

In case the province of Quebec officially secedes from Canada (a near-close attempt in October 1995), the three Maritime Provinces of Canada would easily be admitted as three new states in the United States according to media rumor at the time, but each of the provincial parliaments deny there was such an accord to adjoin the U.S. territory.

Cuba

What should have been the most loyal nation to the U.S. in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as home to over 500,000 American land-owners before the outbreak of the Spanish American war, Cuba was projected to been annexed as a U.S. territory, by purchase from the Spanish empire as early as 1855. The pro-independence movement in Cuba, funded and supported by the U.S., pled for annexation and statehood in the 1880s and early 1890s, but Cuban revolutionary leader Jose Marti objected and called for Cuban nationhood. When the U.S. defeated Spain in 1899, the island was allowed to declare independence and, from 1903 to 1958, the U.S. backed every government, including the General Fulgencio Batista regime which was ousted in 1959 by Fidel Castro, who erected an anti-American Marxist government. This régime has been in power ever since, and millions of pro-U.S. Cubans, along with other political and economic refugees, fled the island as a result, an exodus which continues to this day.

Guyana

There is an organization dedicated to the integration of Guyana with the United States, GuyanaUSA. Their claim is based on the idea that Guyana has strong connections with the United States in terms of demographics (100,000 people have joint Guyanese-American citizenship and 350,000 Guyanese live in U.S., half as many as remain in Guyana). It is also the only South American country with English as its official language (although the U.S. does not have an official language, English or otherwise). Guyana and much of South America itself hosted 100,000 Americans who fled the Confederacy following the Confederacy's surrender that ended the US Civil War in 1865.

Israel

A number of websites assert or joke that Israel is the 51st state due to the annual funding and defense support it receives from the United States. Commentator Richard Reeves has also used this trope. The U.S. has strongly supported the recognition and right of the state of Israel, while many Israelis in case their nation might lose to their Arabic enemies in the Middle East call for evacuation and relocation of over 5 million Israelis of Jewish origin to a certain section of the U.S. or another allied nation (i.e. Canada, Australia, southern Africa or South America).

Philippines

The Philippines at one time had a grassroots movement for statehood. Supporters of this movement were mainly Filipinos that had fought as members of the American armed forces in various wars under a special agreement between the two countries (see Filipino Veterans Fairness Act.) Various suggestions for Philippine statehood have included its entry as a whole or the partial entry of the westernized north, leaving the predominantly Muslim Mindanao to form its own country (see Moro National Liberation Front) or join Indonesia. The movement never had any significant political impact, and was primarily a minor social movement. The movement is virtually dead, as most of its supporters are aging or have died.

Sicily

The Party of Reconstruction in Sicily, which claimed 40,000 members in 1944, campaigned for Sicily to be admitted as a U.S. state. (It would have been the 49th state, preceding Alaska and Hawaii.) This party was one of several Sicilian separatist movements active after the downfall of Italian fascism. The island is populated by Sicilians, a traditionally regional and ethnic group, who felt neglected or underrepresented by the Italian government--especially after the annexation of 1861 when Sicily was part of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies, based in Naples, which combined with the First Republic of Italy in 1868.

Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

This eastern part of Mexico, the Yucatan Peninsula comprised of three states of Campeche, Yucatan and Quintana Roo nearly voted for US annexation in 1847, while they declared independence from Mexico 21 times from independence in 1823 to 1910 when the Mexican revolution broke out, and in 1914, the Yucatan state governments had nearly finalized the deal to become a new territory, later to become a state by 1918.

Central America

The isthmus linking the two continents of North and South America was long a prize for annexation or statehood by American mercenaries and army strategists since the early 19th century after their independence from Spanish colonial rule.

• Panama was assisted to break away from Colombia in 1903 in a scheme for the U.S. to build the Panama Canal, a 25-mile navigational shortcut for seagoing ships opened in 1914. The canal was annexed by the U.S. in 1904 as the Panama Canal Zone but was returned to Panamanian sovereignity by a 1978 treaty. In the 1989 U.S. invasion of Panama to oust general Manuel Noriega, many Panamanians did not oppose the invasion in hopes that it would restore stability as a result of American presence. The canal came under full Panamanian control in 1999.

United Kingdom

The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom has led some British commentators to suggest that their country has become the de facto 51st state. Some have suggested that the UK should join the U.S. (such as this example), as it would thus become the wealthiest and most populous states in the Union – and therefore the most politically influential, though almost no one in the UK or the U.S. sees this as ever likely to occur. However, if it were to happen, the United Kingdom would have to discontinue its monarchy, or the United States would have to amend its constitution, in which Article IV, Section 4 begins, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government".

In cultural terms, various American television programs are becoming increasingly popular, as are films, fashion and literature. Economically, supermarkets and fast food retailers are seen as having been imported from the U.S. to the detriment of old small businesses among the elderly, but is seen as a convenience among the general populace. The film The 51st State (renamed Formula 51 for its U.S. release) explores the supposed migration of American criminality to the UK, particularly drug trafficking and gangs. Politically, the decline of the British Empire and the growth of American influence is seen by many as inextricably linked, with the loss of the UK's colonies and naval dominance being the price of American help during World War II; few believed the UK was cozying up to a new imperial power in an attempt to retain some influence in world affairs.

The presence of U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy and other military & intelligence facilities on British soil from World War II to the present day, especially the large buildup during the Cold War, is taken as clear evidence of American influence. The UK is of great importance to the U.S. Air Force, given its "strategic position" in the world.

Some critics on the political right expressed concern at the possible loss of sovereignty, and the apparent lack of reciprocity in the relationship — while the UK supported America in the Korean War, America did not support the UK during the Suez Crisis. Critics on the left were particularly exercised by Britain following America's lead in dealing with communist countries. The UK's rhetorical support for the U.S. during the Vietnam War led to some protests, although it made no official military commitments. Later, the U.S., this time under Ronald Reagan, secretly assisted the British government of Margaret Thatcher during the Falklands War against Argentina, in the process pushing the limits of the Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance. (However, direct actions against Argentina would not have been in violation of the treaty as Argentina was the aggressor in the conflict. Also, the US had commitments of its own to the UK through the North Atlantic Treaty.) The UK continued to be America's strongest ally after the end of the Cold War, reestablished during the Reagan-Thatcher era and once again re-awakened by Tony Blair's strong support of George W. Bush in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, most noticeably through their relaxed friendly manner when in each other's company. The UKUSA Community was formed to counter terrorism and to share intelligence.

There is also limited discussion on the fringes of political debate in the UK of the United Kingdom pulling out of the European Union and joining the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).. However, the UK would have to re-negotiate trade links with the EU, which accounts for over 60% of UK trade, compared to NAFTA members (15% of the UK exports and 8.7% of imports come from the largest NAFTA member, the USA). Many British commentators, however, feel that Gordon Brown, the new Prime Minister, wishes to withdraw British support for Iraq and that he would not be influenced by the U.S. as Tony Blair is regarded as having been.

Use in other organizational contexts

Frequently, organizations (NGOs, etc.) based primarily in the United States have smaller branches elsewhere. These branches may often be referred to as the group's "51st state".

• The Democratic National Committee recognizes each state for electoral purposes; however it also gives Democrats Abroad electoral votes to represent the roughly 7 million U.S. citizens living abroad. In the context of the DNC, Democrats Abroad is often considered the "51st state".

Use of "51st state" in popular culture

• The 51st State is a 2001 British movie starring Samuel L. Jackson and Robert Carlyle, set in Liverpool, England. The film makes fun of US-UK relations. The film was released under the title Formula 51 in The United States and Canada due to sensitivity to the term "51st state" there.
• In The Simpsons, Saudi-Israelia (presumably a combination of Saudi Arabia and Israel) is mentioned as the 51st state in the episode "Future-Drama".
• The 1986 album The Ghost of Cain by the English rock band New Model Army features a track called 51st State, which refers to the UK under Margaret Thatcher.
• The song "Heartland" on the 1986 album Infected, by the English band The The, ends with the refrain "This is the 51st state of the U.S.A."
• 51st State is a novel by Peter Preston published in 1998, in which the United Kingdom leaves the European Union and becomes the 51st state of the USA. ISBN 0-670-88326-3
• In The Light of Other Days, a novel by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter, the United Kingdom joins the United States, with the Prime Minister serving as governor and the Royal Family exiled to Australia. ISBN 0-00-224704-6
• In the Star Trek: The Next Generation second season episode "The Royale", a 52 Star flag is shown on a piece of debris. The episode did not make clear where the 51st and 52nd states were, only that they joined in the 21st Century. In the episode, Commander Riker says that he would date the debris to between 2033 and 2079.
• The graphic novel Watchmen, written by Alan Moore, is set in a different reality, where the United States won the Vietnam war and annexed Vietnam, that became the 51st state.
• In the 1979 movie Americathon, which is set in a fictional 1998, the United Kingdom has become the 51st state, and the logos of a Safeway grocery store hang upon the Palace of Westminster.

See also

• Manifest Destiny
• Proposals for new Canadian provinces and territories