WI: The United States was called the United Colonies, but the Constitution was the same?

Deleted member 97083

What if the United States called itself the United Colonies, and every State called itself either a Colony or a Commonwealth? Despite this, the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, the drafting, signing, and ratification of the Constitution, and the progress of the American Revolutionary War all go exactly the same as OTL. The only change, until the 1790s, is in the name of the new country.

How would this small, nominal change affect history from the 1790s onward?

Would this influence how the "United Colonies of America" perceives itself? Would the name be a more constant reminder of the country's British-colonized past? I imagine that it might affect the perception of the western territories in some way. Would those be called colonies? Charters?

Through the 19th century, would the United Colonies of America be simultaneously more Anglophile and also more pro-immigration than the OTL United States of America?
 
If they’re independent, they’re not colonies any more. The nation’s “handle” wouldn’t be that much different- a “state” can be a republic, monarchy or just about anything else. Australia’s ex-colonies became states too on federation. Maybe “union” if central government has a larger say in running the country generally than regional governments?
 
I'd say the original 13 colonies remain 'Colonies' in name, but every new territory will get a different moniker: "territory" or "land" or even "state".

Of course, Texas will make it a prequisite for joining the US/UC that they will be admitted as a 'state', so as part of the war of 1848, the UC renames itself the United States, even if Massachusetts, New York, the Virginias and the Carolinas and all other of the original 13 colonies will remain "colonies" in name at least until the Civil War.
 

Deleted member 97083

If they’re independent, they’re not colonies any more. The nation’s “handle” wouldn’t be that much different- a “state” can be a republic, monarchy or just about anything else. Australia’s ex-colonies became states too on federation. Maybe “union” if central government has a larger say in running the country generally than regional governments?
Did "colony" have the connotation of being totally subservient even in 1775, though? A lot of the people in the Thirteen Colonies thought of themselves as English. The word "Colony" could connotate being an English-settled land in an originally non-English-settled land, rather than specifically denoting subservience to London. At one point, colony had no connotation of being a vassal. The Ancient Greek colonies had independence from their metropoles, as did ancient Carthage, yet they were called colonies.

I'd say the original 13 colonies remain 'Colonies' in name, but every new territory will get a different moniker: "territory" or "land" or even "state".

Of course, Texas will make it a prequisite for joining the US/UC that they will be admitted as a 'state', so as part of the war of 1848, the UC renames itself the United States, even if Massachusetts, New York, the Virginias and the Carolinas and all other of the original 13 colonies will remain "colonies" in name at least until the Civil War.
Why would new territories demand that they'd be called States? After all, weren't U.S. Territories in the west from 1780s to early 1910s essentially colonies, admitted only once enough Anglo-American settlers had arrived from the east?

If Colony in the ATL United Colonies has the same connotation as "State" did in OTL, then wouldn't that make it a relatively prestigious title?
 
Did "colony" have the connotation of being totally subservient even in 1775, though? A lot of the people in the Thirteen Colonies thought of themselves as English. The word "Colony" could connotate being an English-settled land in an originally non-English-settled land, rather than specifically denoting subservience to London. At one point, colony had no connotation of being a vassal. The Ancient Greek colonies had independence from their metropoles, as did ancient Carthage, yet they were called colonies.
Good point. The root of the word “colony” I think is the same as “column”, simply referring to it as a subdivision of a common whole, rather than as a vassal entity.
 
IIUC the word 'state' was used because it was the highest level a polity could be at the time. If the Colonies wanted to be accepted worldwide as independent, which is one thing a polity needs to be to be considered a state, then they had to declare themselves the equal of other states around the world. Anything less might effect worldwide recognition.

Edit; to go into even more detail, someone may correct me here but they were :These United States, not The United States. The 'The' didn't enter into use until after the Civil War.
 
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