What is meant by commonwealths as opposed to states in the US?

Commonwealth and state are two terms that are often used interchangeably to refer to the political subdivisions of a country. However, there are some important distinctions between the two.

Commonwealth is a term that originally referred to a political community that is self-governing and independent. In contrast, a state is a political entity that is subject to the authority of a higher government.

In the United States, the term "commonwealth" is used to refer to four states: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. These states were all founded as colonies of Great Britain, and they retained the term "commonwealth" after they became independent.

The other 46 states in the United States are referred to as "states." These states were either created by the US government after the country gained independence, or they were annexed from other countries.

The main distinction between commonwealths and states in the US is that commonwealths are not subject to the same federal oversight as states. For example, commonwealths are not required to submit their budgets to the federal government for approval.

However, there are also some differences between the commonwealths themselves. For example, Kentucky and Virginia have their own constitutions, while Massachusetts and Pennsylvania do not.

Overall, the term "commonwealth" in the US is used to refer to a self-governing political entity that is not subject to the same federal oversight as states.