A new project launched by the Law Library of Congress offers an interactive experience for patrons seeking to learn more about each state and territory in the country. The United States at a Glance displays both the geographic scope and temporal history of the country. With links to the Guide to Law Online: United States, this new map allows patrons to click on each point to learn more about the laws related to the establishment, admission, and, if necessary, incorporation of these states and territories.
Most of the primary legal documents cited in this map come from the Law Library’s Statutes at Large collection, which provides a link to the federal legislation related to each state or territory’s creation. The individualized Guide to Law Online link in each pop-up directs to both primary resources, including the laws promulgated by the state or territory legislatures, as well as secondary sources, such as research guides from law schools within the various jurisdictions.
Individual pop-ups also feature historic maps from the Library’s Geography & Map Division. Research for these digital Library resources was supported by Jewel Navia, an intern in the Law Library’s Digital Resources Division.
A timeline feature also allows patrons to watch the United States grow based on the date of admission to the Union. It is important to note that this map does not account for the Civil War and therefore does not remove states once their admission was enacted.
You can find more information about the unique legislative process of each state in Admission of States to the Union: A Historical Reference Guide.
We hope that this new resource helps you in your state and territory-focused historical research and encourages a deeper understanding of the country as it is preserved in the Law Library’s collections.
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