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▶ In this video, I explore the idea of certain US states potentially becoming independent nations. Highlighting New York, New England, Florida, New Jersey, Texas, and California, I explore their size, population, and economic viability as key factors. Each state boasts unique cultural identities and economic strengths that could sustain them independently. New York's diverse population and robust economy, including its financial sector, present potential for international success. Similarly, Florida's tourism and strategic location offer prospects. California's innovation and Texas's energy reserves could bolster their global standing, drawing on historical independence. Additionally, New England states share cultural ties and economic synergy, hinting at potential union upon independence. Speculative yet thought-provoking, envisioning these states as independent entities prompts discussions on their potential successes and challenges.
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▶TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Intro
01:07 New York
03:28 Florida
04:35 California
06:02 Texas
07:06 New England
08:52 New Jersey
09:52 Summary
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0:00
The other week I made a video comparing California and Florida and one of the things I mentioned
0:05
about them was how if they were their own countries, they would rank reasonably high
0:09
among the world's economies. This got me thinking that it would be interesting to make a full video dedicated to specific
0:15
US states or combinations of states that should they want to could probably become their own
0:20
countries and succeed at it. Here are the ones we'll be looking at today
0:25
New York, the set of states that today make up the region of New England, Florida, New
0:29
Jersey, Texas and California, not necessarily in this order. For many of these, the size
0:34
population and economic capabilities are there in the same way they are for other countries
0:39
in the world today. In addition, there are more and more key political, cultural and
0:44
identity differences between them that could justify secession from a union that perhaps
0:49
makes less and less sense. So in this video we're going to take a look at US states that
0:54
could, hypothetically, be their own countries
1:07
Our first stop on this imaginary journey is the Empire State, New York
1:11
Known for its towering skyscrapers, cultural richness, and diverse population, New York
1:16
at least New York City, has the characteristics of a microcosm within itself
1:21
And while this is a feature of many large countries today, it could pose a challenge
1:25
for a new one, in the sense of which would be the main cultural identity and nationality
1:30
of it. Or would they just forgo that concept and be united in their diversity, but then again
1:35
this multi-ethnicity is more common to New York City than to the state itself
1:40
Which brings about an interesting point that counters one of my previous arguments, political differences
1:45
In New York, as is the case with almost all on this list, the political differences exist
1:50
on an internal level in an urban versus rural way. Urban areas tend to be more blue, while rural
1:56
tend to be more red. This is an issue countrywide in the US and a division not so much between states
2:02
but between regions. But let's get back to the topic here. With a land area of over 141,000
2:08
square kilometers and a population of nearly 20 million, New York is comparable to many countries
2:13
in terms of size and inhabitants. It surpasses the population of countries like the Netherlands
2:18
France, Sweden, Laos or Zambia. New York's GDP is of over 2 trillion US dollars and this
2:24
would make it the 10th strongest economy in the world. With a powerful economic engine
2:29
driven by finance, technology and a myriad of industries, as well as a very strong commercial
2:34
port of New York it could potentially compete on the global stage However one must always remember that much of this economic success comes from being a part of the US and stems from the benefits it has in American people moving freely in and out
2:48
from trading with other states and investment from the federal government. Should all those
2:52
three be removed upon independence, it's likely their economy would have a rocky start. The port
2:57
and other seaside regions, including Manhattan, may also face challenges with the rising water level
3:02
but solutions are possible and they have a whole state to escape to if needed
3:07
Its cultural influence and diplomatic prowess would likely make it a key player in international relations
3:12
however it would likely have, at least at first, a very low military power
3:17
In this scenario, either the US would have broken up and its military dissolved
3:21
being split among all 50 states, or these specific states would be breaking away
3:26
therefore letting go of the US's military might. Now, let's set our sights on the Sunshine State, Florida
3:31
Known for its stunning beaches and diverse wildlife, Florida has a unique character that could set it apart as an independent nation
3:40
It has an interesting combination of native, Spanish, British, Caribbean and American heritage
3:45
If independent, it's likely that it would seek even closer relations to Caribbean nations and perhaps those of northern South America
3:53
Spending about 170,000 square kilometers and hosting a population of around 22 million, it would be no small player on the world stage
4:00
Florida's GDP last year was of $1.3 trillion, making it the 16th largest economy in the
4:06
world when compared to existing countries. Florida's economy, driven by tourism, agriculture and aerospace, could make it a prosperous nation
4:15
Its strategic location and warm climate might attract businesses and residents in the same
4:20
way that it does now. However, challenges like hurricane threats and environmental concerns would need careful
4:26
consideration in this hypothetical scenario. Whenever there's a disaster, Florida is supplied with large relief packages from the federal
4:33
government, this would disappear. Moving on to the Golden State, California, with its vast landscapes, technological innovation
4:41
and the entertainment capital of the world, California stands out as a unique candidate
4:46
for nationhood. After all, their flag literally says California Republic and early movements for independence
4:52
existed when the state was still under the control of Mexico. Covering approximately 423,000 square kilometers, with a population over 39 million people
5:03
it's larger and more populous than many independent countries. For you to have an idea, it's larger than countries like Sweden, Japan, or Germany
5:10
Its GDP is of 3.5 trillion US dollars. It contributes to the nationwide GDP more than any other state
5:17
So if it left on its own it would make a big dent It the fifth largest economy in the world However I believe it pretty dependent on some products from neighboring states so that could put its economy potentially
5:29
at risk. If independent, it would likely focus on what it already does now, fueling its economic
5:35
juggernaut with Silicon Valley and Hollywood. Its cultural influence, technological advancements, and economic strength could make it a formidable player, however the challenge lies in managing
5:46
the diversity and addressing potential issues like water and energy scarcity. But they do pretty well on food production, so at least they wouldn't starve
5:55
Their focus could also be on the Pacific Ocean, but any potential partners are very far away
5:59
by sea which would also be a challenge. Now let's move on over to the lone star state, Texas, known for its cowboy culture, oil-rich
6:08
lands and its very big size. Texas covers almost 700,000 square kilometers, with a population nearing 30 million
6:15
It's like a nation within a nation. It's bigger than France, Ukraine or Morocco, their GDP is 2.4 trillion, the 8th largest
6:24
economy in the world. If they were their own country, the oil industry and diverse economy that now also includes
6:30
tech and aerospace industries would likely secure its place in the global economic landscape
6:36
Its size could bring challenges in governance, but the Texan spirit of independence might
6:40
see them through. The energy giant could potentially hold substantial sway in international affairs as we already
6:47
see is the case with many oil producing nations. Texas actually was its own country for a while, a long time ago, so it wouldn't be super
6:55
shocking to see it happen again. It would likely balance a close relationship with both the US and Mexico as well as Caribbean
7:02
nations, perhaps growing closer to Mexico especially. Now that we've covered the big 4 states, meaning the ones that are effectively already
7:10
countries within a country, let's get into two extra examples of places within the US
7:15
that I think could definitely be their own countries. So let's shift our focus to the charming northeastern states
7:22
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont. This region with its rich history and diverse landscapes is home to a combined population
7:31
of over 15 million across approximately 170,000 square kilometers. They even have a collective name already, coming from older historical times, mostly
7:42
colonial ones, New England. And even a non-official flag to represent the region, this super cool red flag with a
7:49
white canton and a green tree. The capital city would likely be Boston in Massachusetts
7:54
Together they have a GDP of 1 trillion US dollars, they mostly agree on policy and political
7:59
issues and they have a very similar cultural background They have very solid education systems vast natural resources and fantastic hydroelectric power production They only border Canada in the north and then
8:11
New York in the south. If New York were to become independent too, these two could be
8:15
important partners side by side and aid each other in developing as new countries. It would
8:20
likely pursue an even closer relationship with Canada too. Some even argue that already today
8:25
they are more culturally alike with Canadians or even Europeans than with the rest of the US
8:30
Individually, these states might face challenges, but collectively, they could form a robust
8:36
and economically vibrant nation. Vermont, in particular, had a brief period as a sovereign country, known as the Vermont
8:42
Republic, flying a similar flag, although in different colors. This historical precedent hints at the potential for this region to thrive as a unified entity
8:51
And to wrap up this video, one more which also borders New York, New Jersey
8:56
Now, I know what you're thinking, New Jersey is small, not that relevant. how could it ever survive as a state on its own? But hear me out. Let's explore the self-proclaimed
9:05
garden state a little. Despite being the fourth smallest state, it packs a punch with a population
9:10
of around 9 million within its 22.5 thousand square kilometers. For reference, Portugal is
9:16
92 thousand square kilometers and has around the same population. Jersey has the capital
9:21
strong shipping, and manufacturing industry to keep a country going. And again, neighboring states
9:26
are important, and independent New York and New England would likely help New Jersey to
9:31
do very well as they would probably work together. The three new countries could even form some type of confederation of actual independent
9:39
states more similar to what we see with the EU for instance
9:43
While it might not be the largest, its economic output, cultural influence and strategic partners
9:49
could make it a significant player on the international stage. So there you have it, a journey through a hypothetical world where at least 6 new countries
9:58
would emerge out of former US states. Of course this is all speculation and has a million more obstacles than the ones I mentioned
10:06
but it's still intriguing to imagine how these states would fare as independent nations
10:11
What are your thoughts? Do you think they would succeed? Would you want this to happen
10:15
And which other states do you believe would be successful or at least interesting as their
10:20
own countries? Could we perhaps see a Mormon country with Utah's independence, or a new Nordic nation
10:25
with Alaska setting off on its own? Maybe Hawaii can recover its once existing sovereignty and become a key player in the Pacific
10:34
Let me know what you think in the comments. Thanks so much for watching this video, subscribe to catch future ones, and I will see you next
10:40
time for more general knowledge
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