[Paal Gulli]

"This has been an interesting debate for generations: Texas is the only current state that was an independent and sovereign nation before statehood; some other states, or parts of states, were elements of other sovereign nations before statehood, but were not independent and sovereign by themselves."

Apparently you've never heard of Hawaii, Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, The Republic of West Florida, or the Free Republic of Franklin.

[Vermont Lt]

Came here to say this. Vermont was stand alone for a couple of years.

[ought-six]

Apparently I have. See my post #27.

Vermont, Rhode Island, Oregon, West Florida, and “Franklin” were not recognized independent countries. Simply “declaring”
itself to be an independent and sovereign country does not make it so. Without recognition and acceptance as such, it is just an area that has thrown a tantrum. Hell, I can declare my home and property an independent and sovereign nation called The Republic of Ought-Six. That does not make it one.