Atlantic Trivia: Admitted Into the Union

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Atlantic Trivia

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From a story (opens in new tab) by Jonathan Chait

In 1889, what sparsely settled territory was split into two states to preserve Republicans’ electoral advantage in the Senate?

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Pierre and Bismarck became state capitals.

Question 0

Answer

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Question 2

And by the way, did you know that when President Benjamin Harrison signed the statehood papers for the territory mentioned in Question 1, he shuffled the documents and covered them while writing his name? Thus, no one would know which of the two states technically entered the Union first.

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The president purportedly did not wish to show any favoritism. Well, except to Republicans, of course.

Until tomorrow!

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