Guess what the preceding map is of

[The Mikado]

I think this could be fun.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Possibly something to do with abortion?

[Old Man Svensson]

Possibly something to do with abortion?

Likely not. Wyoming wouldn't be red - despite being ridiculously Republican, we have no anti-abortion statutes, as far as I'm aware, and the state government has gone to lengths to chase anti-abortion activists out in the past.

[Donerail]

Next map:

[The Mikado]

SJoyce is right.

About his map: what could possibly be an issue that Minnesota and Arkansas agree on, but disagree with the rest of the country?

I'm going to guess something like maximum speed limit?

[All Along The Watchtower]

I'm stumped by SJoyce's map.

[Donerail]

I'm going to guess something like maximum speed limit?

Nope, it's actually far more political.

[Lief 🗽]

Seeing as how the Deep South is a bloc, I would guess some sort of economic regulation thing. Like union or wage laws. Though that doesn't explain Minnesota...

[JerryArkansas]

state minimum wage laws

[Donerail]

state minimum wage laws

Got it. You post your map.

[JerryArkansas]

Now, I may be wrong on some states, but most are right

[Antonio the Sixth]

I posted this one in the Random Maps thread and almost nobody even tried to find it out. Does anyone want to give it a try here?

Wonder if someone will guess this one.

Here are a few hints (more will be dropped if people make guesses).

It's really tough.  The green bit seems to correspond to the Mississippi River watershed, so maybe something about physical geography, but then you also have light blue DC in the middle of the dark-red Mid-Atlantic, and aaagh.  No idea.

Also odd is that most of the country has what looks like a continuous range of shades, except for the west plus Florida which is just purple.  Which largely corresponds to areas that weren't in the USA in the period betweeen Louisiana Purchase-acquiring Florida, but then Puerto Rico and Hawaii would be purple too. 

You are on something, and by pushing your reasoning a bit you could get very close to the answer. The map isn't geographic per se, but geography plays a great part in explaining it. Similarly, history (and the country's territorial expansion) does matter quite a bit to understand it but doesn't tell the whole story.

All right, here's the big clue.

This map is indeed made with a continuous range of shades (even purple is not fully uniform, look at Wyoming). Basically, these shades indicate chronology. Red is the earliest date, purple is the most recent one, and everything else is in between. Now ponder all this.

[Donerail]

I posted this one in the Random Maps thread and almost nobody even tried to find it out. Does anyone want to give it a try here?

Wonder if someone will guess this one.

US states by the date of their acquisition by the US?

[Antonio the Sixth]

Nope, how would you explain the varying shades between the original 13 colonies? The date of acquisition does matter, but only indirectly and imperfectly.

[Lief 🗽]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

[Swedish Rainbow Capitalist Cheese]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

Nah Hawaii, Alaska and D.C. all have different colours. 

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

You are almost there. So damn close. Just tweak this a bit and you have the answer.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Next map:

[Donerail]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

You are almost there. So damn close. Just tweak this a bit and you have the answer.

Date when the state had the most Representatives in the House.

[Lief 🗽]

Yeah, that would be my next guess. Though that still doesn't explain Hawaii...

[opebo]

Next map:

A magnificent erlection!

[Warren 4 Secretary of Everything]

Oooooh, I got it, I got it.
The United States of America.

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

You are almost there. So damn close. Just tweak this a bit and you have the answer.

Date when the state had the most Representatives in the House.

No, it's a bit farther away from that... but you're getting even closer.

[Goldwater]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

You are almost there. So damn close. Just tweak this a bit and you have the answer.

Date when the state had the most Representatives in the House.

No, it's a bit farther away from that... but you're getting even closer.

Date when the state reached it's height percentage of the national population?

[Antonio the Sixth]

I'm not sure this works, but is it the date when the state had the most electoral votes?

You are almost there. So damn close. Just tweak this a bit and you have the answer.

Date when the state had the most Representatives in the House.

No, it's a bit farther away from that... but you're getting even closer.

Date when the state reached it's height percentage of the national population?

Aaaand we have a winner!

Congrats! It was a tricky one.