Category talk:States and territories established in 1776

Latest comment: 14 years ago by Good Olfactory in topic Untitled

Untitled

edit

Why is it correct to say that the Untied States was established in 1776? The Constitution of the Untied States requires that the president be a resident of the Untied States for fourteen years. George Washington was inaugurated on April 30, 1789. Therefore, the Untied States existed at least as early as April 30, 1775. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.179.117.209 (talkcontribs)

4 July 1776 is the traditional date for the country's "birth" because that was the date the Declaration of Independence was dated. The issue you raise is an interesting one that perhaps the current "birther movement" in the U.S. would like to take up. (The standard answer is probably that in 1789 it meant that the person had to have lived for 14 years in the territory that was by then part of the territory U.S. That way they wouldn't have to sweat the date of the exact creation of the U.S. as a legal entity.) Good Ol’factory (talk) 02:47, 17 May 2010 (UTC)Reply