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UncontrolableUrge t1_iyassay wrote

Because the various states of the US never exercised full sovereignty as independent countries. After leaving the UK at the beginning of the American Revolution, they banded together to create the Articles of Confederation that gave significant powers to conduct foreign relations, warfare, and control of ports to the United States. So they only ever operated with limited sovereignty. The central government was weak by design, but had clear powers that an independent country would reserve to themselves.

Wales, Scotland, England and Ireland all have a history as sovereign nations that had full control over their borders and foreign relations. They became part of the United Kingdom over a period of centuries (with all of Ireland belonging to the UK before the counties that now make up the Republic of Ireland successfully rebelled).

At first the countries were not a single entity. The UK developed after long processes, with each of them originally being different countries with the same monarch before the central governments merged. Since 1282 the heir to the English throne has been prince or princess of Wales, but it wasn't until the reign of Henry VIII that Parliament in London could pass laws for Wales.

Scotland was not conquered like Wales was, but instead a series of marriage pacts led to both England and Scotland having the same line of royal succession. The 17th Century is referred to as the Personal Union, as both kept their own laws under the same monarch. At the beginning of the 18th Century they formed a Constitutional Union as the United Kingdom, with Scotland now sending representatives to Parliament in London.

Around 1800 the British Isles were united under the United Kingdom of Great Britain (the island containing England, Scotland, and Wales) and Ireland. The government was fully centralized at that point. This was renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in 1922.

Recently, the United Kingdom has restored some home rule with separate Parliaments in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland operating much as US state governments do. England still does not have a Parliament separate from the UK, although MPs from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales do not vote on matters that only effect England.

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peter3hg t1_iyc5ca8 wrote

It isn't really true to say that Ireland or Wales were what we would consider sovereign countries by modern standards before English rule/colonisation.

Ireland had a vast number of minor and major kingdoms with perhaps only Brian Boru being close to a true ruler over all Ireland, and that for less than 20 years in the early 11th century.

Similarly Wales have various kingdoms and only Gruffydd ap Llywelyn ruled a united Wales, again for a short period of time (less than 10 years) in the 11th century.

What both countries did have was a strong cultural identity across their various kingdoms, especially in contrast to the Anglo-Saxon and Norman ruled majority in England.

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Any-Growth8158 t1_iyaxuda wrote

"Because the various states of the US never exercised full sovereignty as independent countries."

There can be little doubt that Texas and Hawaii are clear exceptions to this. Should they get independent World Cup teams from the USA?

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WeDriftEternal t1_iyb8jxs wrote

Vermont as well was in theory its own country, but it wasn't recognized as a country by anyone and generally intended to join the US anyways (which it later did).

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UncontrolableUrge t1_iyazf9m wrote

Hawaii, yes.

Texas, no. It was only recognized by a handful of countries (the United States was not one of them) and Mexico stopped fighting but did not give up their claim to the territory until after the US-Mexican War. Same with California and Oregon.

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drafterman t1_iyb0kbx wrote

They gave up that sovereignty when they joined the Union as States.

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r3dl3g t1_iycmpdb wrote

Texas is no longer an exception. The SCOTUS resolved this in the wake of the Civil War.

Hawaii also isn't an exception, but culturally is probably the most distinct from the rest of the US (alongside Alaska).

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