Why the United States was almost named the United Colonies or even Fredonia
In short: Before the United States of America became our permanent moniker, the Founding Fathers debated several alternatives. From the United Colonies to the United States of the Earth, the name was far from settled. Discover why the lowercase "u" in early documents reveals a radically different vision for the nation.
When the thirteen colonies began their rebellion against Great Britain, the name of the emerging nation was a fluid concept. Early proponents of independence, including Thomas Paine in his January 1776 pamphlet Common Sense, frequently referred to the "United Colonies" or "the American states." Benjamin Franklin, a vocal advocate for unity, famously used a "Join, or Die" woodcut as early as 1754 to illustrate the necessity of collective action. At the time, many assumed these titles were merely temporary placeholders while the colonies focused on the immediate, existential task of surviving the war.
The transition to the current name was formalized on September 9, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress resolved that official documents should replace "United Colonies" with "United States." This shift followed Richard Henry Lee’s June 1776 resolution calling for the colonies to become "free and independent states." When the Declaration of Independence was signed, it featured the phrase "the thirteen united States of America." Crucially, the lowercase "u" was intentional. The founders were not initially attempting to build a singular, unified nation, but rather a confederation of independent states that delegated only specific, limited powers—such as war and foreign diplomacy—to a central government.
This decentralized structure was reinforced by the 1781 Articles of Confederation, which explicitly stated that each state retained its sovereignty and independence. The central government lacked even the power to tax, relying instead on the states for funding. While figures like Alexander Hamilton and James Madison later pushed for a stronger federal government, the initial consensus reflected a deep-seated regional identity. Virginians, for instance, viewed themselves primarily as Virginians, and any attempt to integrate into a single, consolidated nation would have been politically impossible at the time. Other creative monikers, such as Columbia, Fredonia, or even the "United States of the Earth," were proposed by various individuals, but the original, modest title eventually stuck as the country evolved.
The debate over the name mirrors the broader conflict between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. While Federalists sought to strengthen the central authority, Anti-Federalists like Patrick Henry fought to preserve the power of individual states. This tension defined the early republic, as the founders navigated the delicate balance between collective security and local autonomy. The name we use today, therefore, serves as a historical artifact of a time when the concept of a unified American nation was still a radical, contested experiment.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Who Named the United States? (Short Animated Documentary)
- Also: How Did the Nation Get Its Name? Other Suggestions Included the United Colonies, Columbia and the United States of Alleghania
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