Replies

Some like WI were U.S. territories. Some were independent sovereign states (RI). Some were extracted from Mexican possession after the Mexican-American War. Some were bought from Russia, France, Spain, etc. But all voted and agreed to their transition from whatever former entity to sovereign State within the American political union.

What you apparently fail to read from your own source is that every one of those, after the initial 13 and with the exception of Texas and, to a lesser extent, California passed through the status of US territory. In the case of California, arguments between slave and free interests and the Wilmot Proviso delayed the organization of the Mexican Cession into a formal territory, and as part of the Compromise of 1850 California was admitted as a state.The other exceptions are Maine and West Virginia, which were broken off from other existing states.

The fact is that the people of a territory can't simply form themselves into a state. The people of a territory tell Congress that they want to be admitted as a state and Congress passes an Enabling Act, giving the people of that territory the authority to form a state. And that permission is not automatic. Colorado started asking for admission in 1864, but it wasn't until 1876 that they were admitted.

every one of those...passed through the status of US territory

Playing your 50% equals "every" game...

Each state had to ratify their respective, sovereign state constitution before qualifying to be admitted as an equal of the existing states. They also had to ratify their statehood before continuing into admittance into the union. The Enabling Acts (now we're down to what, a 25% rule) were the owner's authorization to allow formation of a state (the owner being the U.S. in the case of the territories - i.e. all states had to agree that it was cool to let their collectively-owned territory transform into a new sovereign, equal state complete with congressional representation).

"What you apparently fail to read" is common sense, and sad how often it needs repeating. Otherwise Congress would just draw a line and call that area a "state" without their consent - completely in agreement with your bootlicking view of the fed. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. Since the people are in land collectively owned, they have to apply to be independent. Once the collective agree it's ok, they form their independent constitution. Once they've codified their state powers (as every other state had), they are admitted as an equal. All the while retaining their state rights (or so we thought.)