Question

[unionblue]

Found in Reader's Digest, July 2013 edition.

In an article entitled, What's Your American IQ? the following question was asked.

Which four states were sovereign countries before joining the United States?

Any takers?

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[tmh10]

I would say Texas for one. If it is the condensed version, I only have to pick one.

 

[Sid J.]

Texas and Hawaii clearly qualify. Vermont makes the claim, I'm not sure I buy it. The other would probably be either Deseret or the Great Bear Republic.

 

[unionblue]

Texas and Hawaii clearly qualify. Vermont makes the claim, I'm not sure I buy it. The other would probably be either Deseret or the Great Bear Republic.

Eric,

Correct.

The answer given in the article is:

Texas
Hawaii
California
Vermont

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[Bonny Blue Flag]

Would have had Nolochunky Jack as the leader of Franklin. Although that was the "14th" colony.

--BBF

 

[unionblue]

I noticed the article did not list the Confederate States of America or any of the other 10 states that made up that organization as 'sovereign countries.'

 

[jgoodguy]

An oversight, no doubt.

See we had our own flag.

Expired Image Removed

 

[James B White]

I noticed the article did not list the Confederate States of America or any of the other 10 states that made up that organization as 'sovereign countries.'

But even if one grants that the CSA was a sovereign country, the states that belonged to it weren't sovereign countries themselves. Though one might be able to justify an argument for the Republic of South Carolina, even though we now know in hindsight that it's too small for a republic, but too large for an insane asylum .

If one tried to include any state that belonged to a different country before joining the US, that would be all of the rest--formerly part of England, Mexico or Russia (have I missed any?).

 

[Lnwlf]

But even if one grants that the CSA was a sovereign country, the states that belonged to it weren't sovereign countries themselves. Though one might be able to justify an argument for the Republic of South Carolina, even though we now know in hindsight that it's too small for a republic, but too large for an insane asylum .

If one tried to include any state that belonged to a different country before joining the US, that would be all of the rest--formerly part of England, Mexico or Russia (have I missed any?).

You missed Spain.

 

[donna]

I think you missed France.

 

[RobertP]

The short lived Republic of West Florida, 1810. Interestingly their flag was the Bonny Blue. That part of Louisiana shown in red in the map below is still called the West Florida Parishes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_West_Florida

 

[jgoodguy]

Name the countries that recognized:

California
Vermont

 

[kevikens]

Actually all of the original thirteen states were sovereign under the Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation. The Articles so state that each state retained its sovereignty.

 

[3rd TN Cav USA]

You missed Spain.

Missed Holland

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Name the countries that recognized:

California
Vermont

From what I remember learning in the California public school system, the Bear Flag Republic was very short lived. Basically, a bunch of Anglos living in Sonoma seized control of the weak Mexican government there without firing a shot, and then when the Mexican-American War started, they turned the place over to the US Army. The California Republic only lasted a month or so, and they never established a government, much less gain recognition from a foreign country. They just stole the place fair and square and helped get it absorbed into the US. Once the gold rush hit and population soared, they were able quickly to get California admitted as a state in Sept 1850.

Expired Image Removed

Of course, as many people have pointed out over the last 160 years or so, the bear on the Bear Flag looks more like a pig.

 

[ErnieMac]

If one tried to include any state that belonged to a different country before joining the US, that would be all of the rest--formerly part of England, Mexico or Russia (have I missed any?).

Throw in Sweden (Delaware & Pennsylvania) and Denmark (US Virgin Islands).

 

[jgoodguy]

Actually all of the original thirteen states were sovereign under the Revolutionary War Articles of Confederation. The Articles so state that each state retained its sovereignty.

The AOC granted limited sovereignty. The acid test for full sovereignty is to have foreign relationships with foreign countries, which the States did not have under the AOC.

 

[unionblue]

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.

I have learned from each and every one of you and I thank you all for that.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

 

[ExNavyPilot]

Thanks to all who have contributed to this thread.

I have learned from each and every one of you and I thank you all for that.

Sincerely,
Unionblue

Thanks for starting the thread. It certainly is teaching me something new. Texas, California and Hawaii I knew about, having lived in each of those states, but Vermont? I'll bet it has something to do with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys.

 

[ole]

Thanks for starting the thread. It certainly is teaching me something new. Texas, California and Hawaii I knew about, having lived in each of those states, but Vermont? I'll bet it has something to do with Ethan Allen and his Green Mountain boys.

Vermont was quarreling with New York over borders. It came down to "If you want us to fight in the Rebellion, give us a border." Or something like that.

At any rate, she did not join the United Colonies until she got that concession.