Kentucky was part of the Commonwealth of Virginia before it became a state on June 1, 1792. Virginia has some nicknames including Old Dominion for being the first colonial possession of the British, and Mother of Presidents for being the home of eight presidents of the United States. In Richmond, there is a state university called Virginia Commonwealth University. Other references to the term commonwealth in the state include the Secretary of the Commonwealth, who keeps the Seal of the Commonwealth and the Commonwealth’s Attorney, a title for local prosecutors in the state’s subdivisions. Virginia’s admission to Union was on June 25, 1788. The usage of the term commonwealth by the four states in the US is symbolical emphasizing a “government based on the common consent of the people.” VirginiaĪfter gaining independence from the British, Virginia adopted its first constitution on June 29, 1776, in which the name “Commonwealth of Virginia” appeared. These states share a strong influence of the English common law, having been British Colonies either in part or entirely before 1776.

In the United States, four states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Pennsylvania are commonwealth states. The British Commonwealth is an organization comprising 53 states, which were at one time under the rule of the British Empire. The term commonwealth refers to a group of people organized politically under one government and also a group of nations that have similar objectives and interests.

What states are commonwealth states