1

Superior

Image: Brian Beckwith

As we know, Michigan is divided into the Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The discussion about whether the Upper Peninsula should become its own state dates back as far as 1858.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, residents of the region proposed creating the State of Superior , named after the Great Lake that defines the region. Although the movement never gained enough traction, some people still support the idea today, even though Superior would become the state with the smallest population.

2

Jefferson

Image: Kirk Thornton

Jefferson was a proposed state, much like Washington was before it became a state. Picture this: a state straddling Northern California and Southern Oregon, rich in timber and minerals. This was the vision for Jefferson , first proposed in the mid-19th century and revived in 1941.

Residents even declared a symbolic "secession" and distributed pamphlets proclaiming their independence. However, World War II shifted priorities , and the movement eventually fizzled out.

3

Deseret

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

Mormon settlers had big dreams in 1849—they proposed Deseret , a massive theocratic state . The name, meaning "honeybee" in the Book of Mormon , symbolized industry and cooperation. But Congress wasn’t exactly buzzing with enthusiasm.

Instead, Congress created the smaller Utah Territory , which at the time included present-day Utah as well as parts of Nevada, Colorado, and Wyoming.

4

Sequoyah

Image: Nina Luong

In 1905, Native American tribes in eastern Oklahoma proposed the State of Sequoyah , named after the Cherokee scholar who created the Cherokee syllabary .

It was a bold move to create a Native-majority state. However, Congress chose instead to merge the area with Oklahoma Territory to form the state of Oklahoma . The constitution drafted for the proposed State of Sequoyah went on to influence the final Constitution of Oklahoma.

5

Lincoln

Image: Clark Van Der Beken

The proposed State of Lincoln had multiple identities. One version placed it in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Although the name was intended to honor Abraham Lincoln, other names, such as Columbia and Eastern (East) Washington , were also considered.

Another proposal envisioned Lincoln in southern Texas. This version reportedly had a prepared constitution and a distinctive red flag featuring Lincoln’s face inside a yellow circle.

6

East and West Jersey

Image: Nick Fewings

Can you imagine two New Jerseys? Back in 1674, when the area was still a British province, New Jersey was divided into East Jersey and West Jersey , each with its own government and constitution.

But the separation lasted only 28 years . The territories were rejoined in 1702, and the first New Jersey state constitution wasn’t adopted until 1776, following independence from Britain.

7

Franklin

Image: Dan Mall

The State of Franklin was another plan, except this one worked, for a while. In 1784, settlers in eastern Tennessee had had enough with what they saw as North Carolina’s neglect. They declared independence and formed the State of Franklin , named after Benjamin Franklin, of course.

For four years, Franklin operated as a de facto state , complete with its own constitution and government. However, Congress refused to recognize it, and by 1788, the State of Franklin ceased to exist.

8

Transylvania

Image: Julia Volk

Transylvania (from the Latin for "beyond the woods" ) is more than just a remote land of vampire legends—it was also nearly the name of a short-lived American colony in what is now mostly Tennessee and parts of Kentucky.

In 1775, land speculator Richard Henderson struck a deal with the Cherokee to create the Colony of Transylvania , in parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. But Virginia and North Carolina declared the venture illegal. Still, the name lives on today in Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky.

9

Nickajack

Image: lauren barton

During the Civil War, Union sympathizers in northern Alabama, northern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee proposed the creation of the State of Nickajack . The name came from a Cherokee village, but the idea never gained much traction.

Today, the Nickajack Dam and Nickajack Lake reservoir mark areas that would have fallen within the boundaries of this proposed state.

10

Absaroka

Image: Mohan Nannapaneni

Have you ever heard of Absaroka ? During the Great Depression, residents of parts of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Montana proposed the creation of the State of Absaroka , named after the Crow Nation’s word for "children of the large-beaked bird."

The movement was largely a symbolic protest against federal neglect. Absaroka even had its own license plates and a self-declared "governor," but the state never came to fruition.

11

Westsylvania

Image: Isaac Wendland

Yet another -vania . In the late 18th century, settlers west of the Appalachian Mountains proposed the creation of the State of Westsylvania . Frustrated by neglect from eastern state governments—especially Virginia and Pennsylvania—they wanted a state of their own.

But like many other separatist efforts, the proposal was rejected by Congress and never became a reality.

12

Madison

Image: Library of Congress

Another president nearly had a state named after him—but didn’t. The name of the fourth U.S. president, James Madison, was once proposed for the area that is now part of the Dakotas.

In the late 19th century, residents of what is now southwestern North Dakota proposed the creation of the State of Madison . However, the idea faced a major hurdle: Congress was already considering dividing the Dakota Territory into two separate states. In 1889, North and South Dakota were admitted to the Union, and the Madison proposal was quietly shelved.

1

"The Chairman of the Board" – Frank Sinatra

Image: Ethan Rougon

Frank Sinatra co-founded Reprise Records in 1960, giving him full creative control over his music. The nickname "Chairman of the Board" was first used by radio host William B. Williams and quickly caught on. Although Sinatra didn’t particularly love it, the nickname came to symbolize his power and influence in the music industry.

2

"His Accidency" – John Tyler

Image: Library of Congress

The 10th U.S. president earned this snarky nickname after unexpectedly taking office in 1841, when William Henry Harrison died just one month into his term.

It was the first time a vice president had assumed the presidency due to a president’s death, and many questioned the legitimacy of his authority. His critics called him "His Accidency," a somewhat unfriendly pun that stuck.

3

"The Sphinx of the Potomac" – Calvin Coolidge

Image: Lea Kobal

President from 1923 to 1929, Coolidge was notoriously silent and stoic. His reluctance to speak in public and his poker-faced demeanor earned him the nickname "The Sphinx of the Potomac," a nod to the famous Egyptian statue and his Washington, D.C. post. One oft-repeated anecdote claims he once remarked, "I have nothing to say."

4

"The Boss" – Bruce Springsteen

Image: Jose Antonio Gallego Vázquez

Bruce Springsteen earned this nickname in the early days of playing Jersey Shore clubs, where he was responsible for collecting and distributing gig money to his band. Originally an internal nickname within the group, it quickly caught on with the media. Ironically, Springsteen has admitted that he’s never really liked being called "The Boss."

5

"The Mad Stork" – Ted Hendricks

Image: Wynand Uys

This Hall of Fame linebacker for the Raiders stood 6’7" and had a long, lanky build. His towering figure and unpredictable style of play earned him the nickname "The Mad Stork." Despite the unusual moniker, he was a feared and legendary player in the NFL.

6

"The Snake" – Ken Stabler

Image: Timothy Dykes

Another Raiders legend, quarterback Ken Stabler, earned the nickname "The Snake" from his college coach after a long, twisting touchdown run. The name stuck because he became known for his slippery, cool-headed play under pressure.

7

"Jane the Grabber" – Hester Jane Haskins

Image: sombre

A dark figure in 19th-century New York, Hester Jane Haskins was a "procuress," luring women with promises of work and then forcing them into brothels. Her nickname, "Jane the Grabber," became infamous in the press.

8

"The Black Swallow of Death" – Eugene Bullard

Image: Heather Wilde

Born in Georgia and later a French WWI pilot, Eugene Bullard was the first African American military pilot. He earned the nickname "The Black Swallow of Death" for his fearless flying and deadly accuracy. Despite his heroism, he still faced racial discrimination upon returning to the U.S.

9

"Little Miss Sure Shot" – Annie Oakley

Image: Jp Valery

Annie Oakley was a folk heroine and a famed sharpshooter from an early age. She earned the nickname "Little Miss Sure Shot" from the Native American leader Sitting Bull, who bestowed it after watching her flawless shooting in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.

10

"Kid Gloves" – Benjamin Harrison

Image: Aaron Lefler

Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd president, frequently wore soft kid-leather gloves in public due to hand ailments. Political opponents seized the opportunity to mock his stiff demeanor and perceived elitism, dubbing him "Kid Gloves." The nickname pointed not only to his physical appearance but also to his aloof attitude.

1

No Taxation Without Representation

Image: Board of Stamps

After the French and Indian War in 1763, American colonists were surprised to find that, instead of being rewarded for their efforts, the British Parliament raised their taxes and enacted new ones, such as the Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. Soon, these burdensome laws sparked widespread protests and boycotts under the rallying cry of "No Taxation Without Representation."

Initially, most colonists only wanted to be recognized as rightful British citizens. However, the brutal reaction of the Crown—sending troops to contain the unrest and force compliance—convinced many that independence was the only way to achieve their rights. The tragic incident known as the Boston Massacre on March 5, 1770, was the tipping point in this chain of events, inflaming anti-British sentiment.

2

Boston Tea Party

Image: W.D. Cooper

The Tea Act, enacted on May 10, 1773, granted the British East India Company a monopoly on tea sales in the colonies, further enraging the already weary colonists. This led a group of rebel colonists, known as the Sons of Liberty, to take matters into their own hands. In direct response to the Tea Act, they boarded British ships and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, worth £9,659 (equivalent to $1,700,000 today).

This act of defiance, later known as the Boston Tea Party , was a bold statement against British taxation and control. However, it also prompted the British government to further restrict colonial autonomy by implementing the Intolerable Acts (also known as the Coercive Acts).

3

The Midnight Ride

Image: National Archives and Records Administration

The British government's punitive measures only fueled the burgeoning revolutionary movement. In 1774, the First Continental Congress was convened, with representatives from each colony attending. During these meetings, the delegates agreed to coordinate militia training and resistance.

The situation remained tense for a year until King George ordered British troops to seize the rebels' weapons and arrest their leaders. However, the colonial militia was warned of the approaching British forces the night before, thanks to the heroic midnight ride of Paul Revere and other patriots. Their ride was crucial in mobilizing the Minutemen and ensuring they were prepared for the British assault.

4

Shot Heard 'Round the World

Image: William Barnes Wollen

The first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired on April 19, 1775, in Massachusetts. British troops aimed to seize colonial arms, but the Minutemen refused to comply and confronted them, leading to a series of skirmishes known as the Battles of Lexington and Concord. These clashes demonstrated the colonies' determination to fight for their rights and ignited an all-out war.

The first significant military encounter of the American Revolutionary War, it resulted in a resounding American victory that encouraged other colonists to support and join the revolutionary efforts. Due to its significance and lasting consequences, the event was later referred to as the "shot heard round the world," a phrase that stems from the first stanza of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s 1837 commemorative poem.

5

Raising the Banner

Image: Winthrop Chandler

The Battle of Bunker Hill, fought on June 17, 1775, proved that the colonists could stand up to the British army. As Loyalist forces sought to capture the strategically important hills surrounding the besieged city of Boston, Patriot Colonel William Prescott directed his troops to occupy these positions in advance.

Though the battle was technically a British victory, the colonial forces inflicted heavy casualties on the British—approximately 1,000 British soldiers compared to around 500 American casualties. This showed the Crown that quelling the fight for independence would be a long and costly campaign, while simultaneously boosting American morale and convincing many that victory was within reach.

6

A Declaration of Independence

Image: John Trumbull

Emboldened by their success, on July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress—at the time the de facto unified colonial government representing each of the former colonies—adopted the Declaration of Independence .

Drafted primarily by Thomas Jefferson, the document declared the colonies' separation from Britain and articulated a vision of liberty and democracy , rejecting monarchy and aristocracy. It was a bold assertion of the colonies' right to self-governance, inspiring similar revolutionary movements around the world and influencing future generations.

7

Crossing the Delaware

Image: Emanuel Leutze

On Christmas night of 1776, General Washington led a daring and successful surprise attack across the icy Delaware River. This bold maneuver demonstrated both Washington's genius and leadership, as well as the Continental Army's resolve to defeat the British forces at any cost.

The subsequent victory at the Battle of Trenton significantly boosted morale and reinvigorated the revolutionary cause across the continent. Despite the British having considerable advantages, including a highly trained and battle-tested army, they systematically underestimated the revolutionaries, believing them to be merely a group of renegades whose defeat would restore loyalist allegiance to the Crown.

8

Turning the Tide

Image: John Trumbull

The American victory at the Battle of Saratoga in late 1777 marked a turning point in the war. Not only did American forces manage to capture a large British invasion army and halt the British advance in the north, but the triumph also resonated across Europe.

When news of General Burgoyne's surrender reached France, it convinced King Louis XVI to join the conflict as an ally to the Americans, providing much-needed military support and resources. This alliance significantly bolstered the American cause and forced the British to view the war as part of a larger global campaign, further straining their already depleted resources.

9

The French Connection

Image: Eugène Delacroix

The Siege of Yorktown in 1781 was the last major land battle of the Revolutionary War. American and French forces, led by General Washington and General Rochambeau, successfully trapped British General Cornwallis's army.

The Franco-American alliance proved decisive, compelling Cornwallis to surrender and prompting the British government to negotiate an end to the increasingly costly conflict. This effectively ended major combat operations and marked the beginning of the end for British rule in America.

10

Negotiating Peace

Image: John D. Morris & Co. after Wilhelm Anton Seiler

The Treaty of Paris , signed on September 3, 1783, officially ended the Revolutionary War. Negotiated by American diplomats Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and John Jay, it recognized American independence and established borders for the new nation. The treaty delineated the boundaries between British North America, later known as Canada, and the nascent United States.

Although British efforts to undermine the American colonies persisted for decades, eventually leading to the War of 1812, the treaty granted legitimacy to the revolutionaries' efforts on the world stage and marked the beginning of a new era.