The Philippines becomes a US state

In recognition of the heroic sacrifice of the Filipino people the Roosevelt administration has Congress pass a new act concerning the Philippines. In 1946, the Philippines becomes the 49th US state.
 
Neither the Filipinos nor the Americans wanted this. In fact a deal had already been cut, banning Filipino migration to the mainland United States in exchange for granting the Philippines independence in 1946.
 
Neither the Filipinos nor the Americans wanted this. In fact a deal had already been cut, banning Filipino migration to the mainland United States in exchange for granting the Philippines independence in 1946.
Though to be fair, that deal had so many holes in practice it's not even funny. But no, since the 1910s no one wanted Philippine statehood.
 
You do realize that the Republic of the Philippines has a population of over a 100 million, almost a third of that of the United States?

By contrast, the largest current state, California, has a population of 40 million, about an eighth of that of the United States?

There is no constitutional maximum population for a state, and in theory one state could have 324 million people and the other 49 one million between them, but a state with the population the size of the Philippines would be horrendously impractical.

In 1940, the population of the Philippines was a more reasonable 17 million, as opposed to 140 million for the United States. But that would still be a higher percentage than modern day California, which holds the record for the percentage of the American population within its borders. Maybe the Philippines being part of the United States proper avoids the population explosion following the Green revolution.
 
You'd have to have a POD in the early 1900s.Best one would be a popular Governor who did a great job and greatly expanded the Philippinio economy for the benifit if everyone.
 
You do realize that the Republic of the Philippines has a population of over a 100 million, almost a third of that of the United States?

By contrast, the largest current state, California, has a population of 40 million, about an eighth of that of the United States?

There is no constitutional maximum population for a state, and in theory one state could have 324 million people and the other 49 one million between them, but a state with the population the size of the Philippines would be horrendously impractical.

In 1940, the population of the Philippines was a more reasonable 17 million, as opposed to 140 million for the United States. But that would still be a higher percentage than modern day California, which holds the record for the percentage of the American population within its borders. Maybe the Philippines being part of the United States proper avoids the population explosion following the Green revolution.
If we handwave the obstacles to admission as a state, perhaps a Puerto Rico-style sterilization program happens? Which is, of course, deeply problematic and in some cases immoral by our modern standards (then again, the most opportune time for statehood was a time where forced sterilization was deemed a Good Thing.), but it would keep the population down.

The problem is, of course, assuming that the Philippines would even want to be admitted as one state, of course - keep in mind that the concept of an All-Filipino identity was rather new when it was annexed by the United States. Before that regional identities were more salient - which is how the Spanish managed to stay on for so long.
 
... banning Filipino migration to the mainland United States ...

Here the real reason it won't happen. WASP citizenry were increasingly opposed to immigration & doubly so against non white & non Protestant immigrants. 17 million non white Catholic & Muslim US citizens would have given the WASPs the vapors.
 
If we handwave the obstacles to admission as a state, perhaps a Puerto Rico-style sterilization program happens? Which is, of course, deeply problematic and in some cases immoral by our modern standards (then again, the most opportune time for statehood was a time where forced sterilization was deemed a Good Thing.), but it would keep the population down.

The problem is, of course, assuming that the Philippines would even want to be admitted as one state, of course - keep in mind that the concept of an All-Filipino identity was rather new when it was annexed by the United States. Before that regional identities were more salient - which is how the Spanish managed to stay on for so long.

Some of these things were addressed on a post 9/11 ATL, I was working on with my sociology major cousin. Basically, worse 9/11, US expands annexing/ uniting with Australia, Canada and New Zealand. Within 10 years Puerto Rico and the Bahamas are states. Problem was the Philippines wanted in. No longer place of 15 million but over 100 million, 20% of greater US. Should they come in as one state?
 
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