The idea of popular sovereignty was not necessarily new when the Founding Fathers declared that “all men are created equal” and that the United States was free and independent. But the formation of a government composed of distinct sovereign states was not common in the European conception of politics. The development of the relationship between the different states and the United States – as a particular entity – has been a constant tug of war. In this episode, we will dive into the history of that relationship, its complications over time, and where the debate stands today.