Editing 1902: State Borders
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==Explanation== | ==Explanation== | ||
− | + | {{incomplete|Add a table of all the proposed changes, explain title text... Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} | |
− | + | In this comic, graphic designers take control of the United States, but the only thing they do is to change the state and national borders, as well as to some extent the coast line, using primarily esthetic criteria. | |
− | + | Despite the caption's rather blasé reaction to the graphic designers' master plan, the changes they propose could be rather tumultuous. Many U.S. residents will be made to live in new states, and thus be required to pay different taxes and obey different state laws. Some particularly unlucky U.S. residents living Arizona, New Mexico, Alaska and Minnesota will be required to file for citizenship in Mexico or Canada if they wish to continue living in their current homes. | |
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{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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! Proposed change !! Explanation | ! Proposed change !! Explanation | ||
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− | | Give to Canada || {{w|Minnesota}} has a small northern | + | | Give to Canada || {{w|Minnesota}} has a small northern enclave (the {{w|Northwest Angle}}) which is accessible from the rest of the US only via the {{w| Lake of the Woods}} or by travelling through Canada. The new borders suggest giving this territory to Canada to simplify the state and national border. |
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− | | This should be {{w| | + | | This should be Wisconsin || {{w|Michigan}} is split to the Northwest with {{w|Wisconsin}} by {{w|Lake Michigan}}. The graphic designers suggest, by reassigning land, water and land again, to assign {{w|Ottawa National Park}} and {{w|Hiawatha National Park}} to Wisconsin. |
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− | | | + | | If we're going to have a panhandle, why not commit to it? || {{w|Oklahoma}} has a "panhandle" to its west, which is a kind of {{w|Salient (geography)|Salient}}. The graphic designers don't want to go with this thing, but if it must, they suggest including the Northern parts of {{w|Arizona}} and {{w|New Mexico}} to go with it, as it shows commitment. |
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− | | | + | | Let's be honest, this should be Canada too || {{w|Southeast Alaska}} should be given to {{w|Canada}}, presumably because it more neatly fits with {{w|British Columbia}}. This is slightly problematic, as the state capital, {{w|Juneau}}, is within this section. |
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+ | | Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Texas}}/{{w|Oklahoma}}/{{w|Arkansas}}/{{w|Louisiana}} || Square off {{w|Southwest Arkansas}}, and move {{w|Lousiana's}} northwest border to meet up, presumably because square corners are better. | ||
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− | | | + | | Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Nevada}}/{{w|Arizona}} || Continue the line of Utah's western border and Arizona's far northwestern border south (replacing part of the {{w|Colorado River}} boundary), transferring part of Arizona's {{w|Mohave_County,_Arizona|Mohave county}} to Nevada. |
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− | | | + | | Unlabelled cleanup at the junction of {{w|Kentucky}}/{{w|Virginia}} || Virginia's western border is shifted east to align it with the borders to the north and south, forming a continuous line along the {{w|Appalachian_Mountains|Appalachains}}. |
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| Fix this thing || The border of {{w|Missouri}} cuts into {{w|Arkansas}}, in the so-called {{w|Missouri Bootheel}}. The Design Team has awarded that piece to {{w|Arkansas}}, straightening the border. | | Fix this thing || The border of {{w|Missouri}} cuts into {{w|Arkansas}}, in the so-called {{w|Missouri Bootheel}}. The Design Team has awarded that piece to {{w|Arkansas}}, straightening the border. | ||
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− | | | + | | Align to Grid || Most of the Western states are variations on "Let's have a large box", but there's something a bit irregular about them. Never fear, the Design Team has fixed! |
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− | | | + | | Why should Florida get Alabama's coastline? It has plenty. || |
+ | The {{w|Florida Panhandle}} borders southern {{w|Alabama}} denying the state all but a sliver of coastline. Given that Florida already has an abundance of coast, the Graphic Designers consider the present arrangement unfair. Ceding the Florida counties west of the {{w|Apalachicola River}} have actually been {{w|Florida_Panhandle#Alabama_annexation_proposals|raised since the 19th century}}. This change would have the additional benfit of more neatly aligning Florida's western border with that of neighboring {{w|Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia}}. | ||
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− | | | + | |Enlarge Rhode Island & Delaware || {{w|Rhode Island}} and {{w|Delaware}}, the two {{w|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._states_and_territories_by_area#Area_by_state.2Fterritory|smallest U.S. states by area}}, are often difficult to make out on a map of the United States. Expanding Delaware to occupy the entire {{w|Delmarva_Peninsula|Delmarva peninsula}} eliminates some boundary lines the designers apparently consider excessively fiddly. |
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|} | |} | ||
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+ | In the title text, the graphic designers have a civil war between the ones that favor "panhandles" in the borders, such as the Oklahoma one which is enlarged in the map, the Florida one which is removed in the map, and maybe others such as the Texas region known as the "Texas panhandle". However, they get too caught up in making the flag designs for their faction to actually fight. Randall has shown interest for vexillology (the study of flags) in the past. | ||
==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
− | :[An outline map of the United States is shown, including state boundaries. | + | {{incomplete transcript|Do NOT delete this tag too soon.}} |
− | :[Minnesota's Northwest Angle is circled] | + | :[An outline map of the United States is shown, including state boundaries. The following edit marks are shown in red text:] |
− | + | :[Minnesota's Northwest Angle is circled] Give to Canada | |
− | + | :[Border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula is crossed out] This should be Wisconsin | |
− | :[Border between Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula is crossed out] | + | :[New York's Long Island is circled, with arrows and question marks pointing to New Jersey and Connecticut] Move Long Island to NJ or CT or make it its own state |
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− | :[New York's Long Island is circled, with arrows and question marks pointing to New Jersey and Connecticut] | ||
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:[New York's eastern border has been straightened] | :[New York's eastern border has been straightened] | ||
− | + | :[Wyoming's western border is moved to align with that of Colorado. The Montana/Idaho and Idaho/Utah borders are extended to reach the new border. Similarly, Colorado's eastern border is moved to align with that of Wyoming, and the Nebraska/Kansas border has been extended] Align to grid | |
− | :[Wyoming's western border is moved to align with that of Colorado. The Montana/Idaho and Idaho/Utah borders are extended to reach the new border. Similarly, Colorado's eastern border is moved to align with that of Wyoming, and the Nebraska/Kansas border has been extended] | + | :[West Virginia's northern panhandle has been given to Ohio and part of its eastern panhandle has been given to Maryland. In return, Western Maryland has been given to West Virginia. The altogether effect is that West Virginia and Maryland have more compact shapes] Clean Up |
− | + | :[Rhode Island has been enlarged to encompass southeastern Massachusetts, and Delaware now takes up the entire Delmarva Peninsula] Enlarge Rhode Island & Delaware | |
− | + | :[The Oklahoma Panhandle has been extended west until it reaches Nevada, taking the northernmost parts of Arizona and New Mexico with it] If we're going to have a panhandle, why not commit to it? | |
− | :[West Virginia's northern panhandle has been given to Ohio and part of its eastern panhandle has been given to Maryland. In return, Western Maryland has been given to West Virginia. The altogether effect is that West Virginia and Maryland have more compact shapes] | + | :[The Missouri Bootheel has been given to Arkansas] Fix this thing |
− | + | :[The part of Virginia west of the Appalachian Mountains has been given to West Virginia] | |
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− | :[Rhode Island has been enlarged to encompass southeastern Massachusetts, and Delaware now takes up the entire Delmarva Peninsula] | ||
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− | :[The Oklahoma Panhandle has been extended west until it reaches Nevada, taking the northernmost parts of Arizona and New Mexico with it] | ||
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− | :[The Missouri Bootheel has been given to Arkansas] | ||
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− | :[The part of Virginia west of the Appalachian Mountains has been given to | ||
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:[The southwestern and eastern borders of Nevada have been extended into Arizona until they meet a point. A part of California is slightly extended to reach the revised border] | :[The southwestern and eastern borders of Nevada have been extended into Arizona until they meet a point. A part of California is slightly extended to reach the revised border] | ||
− | + | :[Parts of Arizona and New Mexico have been ceded to Mexico, and part of Texas has been given to New Mexico, so that the southern borders of Arizona and New Mexico and the northern border of the Trans-Pecos area of Texas collectively form a straight line] Clean Up | |
− | :[Parts of Arizona and New Mexico have been ceded to Mexico, and part of Texas has been given to New Mexico, so that the southern borders of Arizona and New Mexico and the northern border of the Trans-Pecos area of Texas collectively form a straight line] | ||
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:[Parts of northeastern Texas have been given to Arkansas and Louisiana] | :[Parts of northeastern Texas have been given to Arkansas and Louisiana] | ||
− | + | :[The northern and southern borders of Tennessee have been straightened] Straighten to fix survey errors | |
− | :[The northern and southern borders of Tennessee have been straightened] | + | :[A line has been traced along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida] Good curve! Keep. |
− | + | :[Alaska's southeastern panhandle has been circled] Let's be honest - this should be Canada, too. | |
− | + | :[The Alabama/Florida border has been erased, and Alabama's eastern border has been extended south until it meets the Gulf of Mexico] Why should Florida get Alabama's coastline? It has plenty. | |
− | :[A line has been traced along the coasts of South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida] | ||
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− | :[Alaska's southeastern panhandle has been circled] | ||
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− | :[The Alabama/Florida border has been erased, and Alabama's eastern border has been extended south until it meets the Gulf of Mexico] | ||
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:[Caption below the panel:] | :[Caption below the panel:] | ||
− | :It was scary when graphic designers seized control of the country, but it turned out they just wanted to fix some things about the state borders that had always bothered them. | + | :It was scary when graphic designers seized control of the country, but it turned out they just wanted to fix some things about the state borders that had always bothered them.<br> |
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{{comic discussion}} | {{comic discussion}} | ||
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