What was that, under the Monroe Doctrine?
2007-07-26 10:53:42 · 7 answers · asked by nom de paix 4 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
~The first independent states (or nations) to join the union (the US) were, in order of entry:
Delaware
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
Georgia
Connecticut
Massachusetts
Maryland
South Carolina
New Hampshire
Virginia
New York
North Carolina
Rhode Island
After the colonies were recognized as independent by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783, thirteen independent states were established. Although they agreed to unite for some purposes under the Articles of Confederation, they expressly retained their independence. Only after the Constitution was ratified and became effective was the USA created and only then did the states unite into a single nation.
Thereafter, Texas, California and Hawaii, having been recognized as independent nations, enterred. Hawaii is a less clear example, as at the time of entry into the Union, it was not an independent nation. Although the Indians were granted citizenship in the 20th century, no Indian "nation" was ever admitted into the union. All other states, except West Virginia, were territories at the time of admission. West Virginia joined the Union by seceding from Virginia at a time when the Union was fighting a war to establish the basic premise that a state could not secede. A little hypocritical irony there, eh?
2007-07-26 12:25:29 · answer #1 · answered by Oscar Himpflewitz 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No, Texas was NOT the only independent nation to join the United States, it just tends to voice loudest that it was an independent nation, even if only briefly, from 1836-1845. But to my knowledge at least three other states had a similar role upon joining the US..
Hawaii, for one, was an independent kingdom long before it's acquisition by the US. It agreed to transfer sovereignty to the US in the 1890s, as whaling ships from New England docked in Hawaian ports and American businessmen brought a lot of wealth to the island through the sugar business. The US annexed Hawaii in 1900, statehood followed in 1959.
Upon hearing news of the outbreak of war between Mexico and the United States, Californians proclaimed themselves an independent republic, the California Republic. This is why the flag of the state of California has a bear with the words underneath "California Republic". This independent "nation" lasted exactly one week before the US army replaced it with the Union flag and proclaimed California a part of the United States. The story is very similar to the statehood of Texas, only California was prized by the US and there was no delay to take action, as there was in the case of Texas a little more than a decade before.
Also, Rhode Island was treated as a foreign country in the initial days of the Republic. As the last colony to ratify the US Constitution, there are actually treaties made between the newly formed United States and the independent Rhode Island. However, Rhode Island joined the United States upon ratification of the Constitution on 29 May, 1790 (the other states suggested taxing Rhode Island's exports as foreign goods).
Finally, we could do worse than to remember that numerous independent Native American and Inuit nations joined with the United States of America, while hundreds others, while not joining the United States, became absorbed by the US and maintain semi-autonomy within her borders.
2007-07-26 11:48:18 · answer #2 · answered by NYisontop 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I'm a proud Texan too, but I wanted to add one more to the three listed above-- Vermont. Vermont was an independent republic for a little while in the 1790s, and then they joined the U.S. following that.
Go Texas!!!
Cheers!!
2007-07-26 12:16:31 · answer #3 · answered by SinisterMatt 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, it has nothing to do with the Monroe Doctrine.
The flag of Texas is the only state flag that is flown at the same height as the US flag.
The State of Texas has the right to seceed from teh US or to split into 4 separate states.
It is 880 miles from Beaumont to El Paso. If you drive from Beaumont to SanFrancisco, half of the journey will be travelling through Texas.
And with the onslaught of global warming, Texas will again be the largest state when Alaska melts.
Yes, I am a Texan
2007-07-26 11:06:38 · answer #4 · answered by Sldgman 7 · 3⤊ 5⤋
No. The Republic of California was admitted to the Union. Their state flag still has the bear on it which was featured on the flag of that republic.
2007-07-26 11:43:22 · answer #5 · answered by desertviking_00 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes it was and it is the only state that can leave the U.S. and become it's own nation.
Where did the Hawaii question come from?
2007-07-26 11:11:42 · answer #6 · answered by kmputman 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
What about Hawaii?
2007-07-26 11:00:51 · answer #7 · answered by K.K. 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋