The statement regarding Alaska and Hawaii being the 49th and 50th states admitted into the United States, respectively, is true. Alaska gained statehood on January 3, 1959, followed by Hawaii on August 21, 1959.
The sentence 'Alaska was the forty-ninth state admitted to the United States, and Hawaii was the fiftieth' is true and relates to the historical timeline of state admissions into the United States. Alaska was admitted as the 49th state on January 3, 1959. Subsequently, Hawaii became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. Both territories underwent significant transformation before achieving statehood.
For instance, after the Spanish-American War, the strategic significance of Hawaii grew due to its location and potential role in maritime routes and as a military base, which contributed to its annexation and eventual statehood.