His election proved pivotal to the statehood movement.

A statehood movement had developed to correct what was perceived as the "second-class" status experienced by territorial citizens.

For this referendum, leaders of the statehood movement tried to divide the opposition among the four other options.

The statehood movement first began in 1939.

By early 1891 there was a strong statehood movement in Arizona Territory.

The Republicans also attempted to label Smith as a supporter of the joint statehood movement.

After receiving further threats from the statehood movements, the family moved to New York City.

The statehood movement is not merely a quest for greater infusions of Federal aid.

Decades later, the statehood movement gained its first real momentum following a territorial referendum in 1946.

The statehood movement lost much of its momentum after this and other defeats, though the party continued to field candidates for local offices.