[central_va]

The states were never truly sovereign most did not even have constitutions as states until the Union was formed. Americans fought for NATIONAL independence and the generation of the Founders thought of themselves as one People.

Would the Constitution have been ratified if the states thought they couldn't exit at will? I think not. It is ridiculous for any student of history to think otherwise. The perpetual union thing is BS.

Since you are playing fantasy history here, if I had any say in the matter, each state legislature would have to vote every 4 years to STAY in the USA, the default would be to leave the UNION and become independent.

[rockrr]

Would the Constitution have been ratified if the states thought they couldn't exit at will?

Of course it would. Because the alternative was unthinkable. And it was ratified unconditionally.

[Ohioan]

The idea that the States were never sovereign is a blatant denial of history--a denial of what was won at Yorktown & formerly acknowledged in The Treaty Of Paris--1783.

Obviously, they did not owe their existence to a political structure--or agency that did not even exist for another six years.

William Flax

[arrogantsob]

Son, it is clear you do not understand what a constitution is much less are capable of interpreting it correctly.

I don’t care about your opinion of what states thought or didn’t think at any point since “states” never think at all. PEOPLE at the conventions did not believe they based their ratifications on an ability to leave the Union via ILLEGAL means.

Ratification by the American PEOPLE gathered in states was the means EXPLICITLY chosen by Congress so that idiocy such as you pine for could not occur.

Thank God, that the Founders realized that such anti-American sentiments would be dangerous.