Use USA if only a Territory?

Question

What's the right approach to using USA for a Territory before the area became a state?  i.e. Michigan Territory, Indiana Territory, etc.  Michigan didn't become a state until 1837 so when is it proper to use USA?

Answer 1

All the Territories were part of the United States.

Michigan was originally settled at Detroit by the French and was part of New France until captured by the British in 1760. It remained in British hands as part of the Province of Quebec (and then briefly Upper Canada) until 1796 when in Jay's Treaty, the British ceded it to the United States. So whatever the designation after that - Northwest Territory, Indiana Territory, Michigan Territory - they were all part of the United States.

Comments

Thank you!  I have a few profiles to revise (with the Michigan Territory designation).  Any idea of how to get a list of those that are missing the USA?

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I don't think there is such a list. I think the larger problem is the number of pre-Revolutionary War profiles which incorrectly show USA.

I have tagged this for the data doctors. If such a list exists, they would be the ones who would know.

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Thank you, Dave.