Not many Americans realize that the original vision and the implementation of the political organization of the United Stated was very resembling that of European Union. The US states were just a bit less sovereign than EU member states (with differences mostly about having independent militaries and foreign relations), and the role of the federal US government was closer to what role EU plays for its member states.

Then, suddenly, in early 20th century, the federal US government made a huge power grab, and now the states are mostly just subjects of it, with much less sovereignty remaining. That’s what some EU skeptics are concerned about as well: sudden sweep and becoming subjects of Brussels.