1861 Kansas became the 34th state

The state capital is Topeka and Wichita is the largest city. After the Civil War, the population of Kansas grew rapidly, when waves of immigrants turned the prairie into farmland. Today, Kansas is one of the most productive agricultural states, producing high yields of wheat, sorghum and sunflowers.

1861 Abraham Lincoln the 16th President of the United States

Born Hodgenville, Kentucky; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865. He promoted rapid modernization of the economy through banks, canals, railroads and tariffs to encourage the building of factories; he opposed the war with Mexico in 1846. Serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He was shot on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, as the American Civil War was drawing to a close. The assassination of Lincoln was planned and carried out by the well-known stage actor John Wilkes Booth.

1859 Oregon became the 33rd state

Salem is the state's capital and Portland is the most populous. Oregon contains a diverse landscape including the windswept Pacific coastline, the volcanoes of the rugged and glaciated Cascade Mountain Range, many waterfalls (including Multnomah Falls) and high desert across much of the eastern portion of the state, extending into the Great Basin. Crater Lake National Park is the only national park in Oregon.

1858 Minnesota became the 32nd state

Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", the state's name comes from a Dakota word for "clear water". It ranks among the healthiest states and has a highly literate population. The large majority of residents are of Scandinavian and German descent. The state is known as a center of Scandinavian American culture. The capital city is Saint Paul, the largest is Minneapolis.

1857 James Buchanan became the 15th President

Born Cove Gap, Pennsylvania; April 23, 1791 – June 1, 1868. He is the only president from Pennsylvania and the only president who remained a lifelong bachelor. As President, he was often called a "doughface". Historians in both 2006 and 2009 voted his failure to deal with secession the worst presidential mistake ever made.

 

1853 Franklin Pierce became the 14th President

Born Hillsborough, New Hampshire; November 23, 1804 – October 8, 1869. He is the only President from New Hampshire. He made many friends, but he suffered tragedy in his personal life; all of his children died young. As president, he made many divisive decisions which were widely criticized and earned him a reputation as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history. 

1850 California became the 31st state

California is the most populous U.S. state. The capital city is Sacramento, the largest is Los Angeles. In 1848 began California Gold Rush when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought some 300,000 people to California from the rest of the United States and abroad.