[Idabilly]

That's right. So none of them became states by merely ratifying the Constitution. And even the original 13 were colonies and only formed themselves into states when they adopted the Articles of Confederation, and retained that status when they adopted the Constitution. So strictly speaking, Lincoln was correct

Geez! You forget that the States won their independence, as sovereign entities. It's all about plurality and "sovereignty"...

His Brittanic Majesty acknowledges the said United States, viz.. New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia, to be free sovereign and independent states, that he treats with them as such, and for himself, his heirs, and successors, relinquishes all claims to the government, propriety, and territorial rights of the same and every part thereof.

[phi11yguy19]

No, no. The “Articles” won their independence from Britain, and then carved out the States as subjects of the new crown in D.C. (eventually). How is it that you don’t understand such basic U.S. history??? (/sarc)