All were subjects, mostly English. They were also CITIZENS of the several states. Basically they got to choose if they wanted to stay and become citizens of the *new* United States, or go on back “home.”
Since many families had been in the States for generations, most chose to remain. Instead of being a British subject who was a citizen of MA. or VA, for example, they would now be a US citizen in addition to being a citizen of MA or VA. By choosing to remain, they ceased being a “subject”
But it wasn’t exactly official until.......
SNIP:
February of 1783 George III issued his Proclamation of Cessation of Hostilities, culminating in the Peace Treaty of 1783. Signed in Paris on September 3, 1783, the agreement — also known as the Paris Peace Treaty — formally ended the United States War for Independence.
Obviously, after July 4th, 1776 there would be "CITIZENS of the several states". But the proposed amendments say citizens before 7/4/1776 ("has not become a citizen before the 4th day of July, 1776" and "Citizens on or before the fourth day of July one thousand seven hundred and seventy six"). There were no states before 7/4/1776 only English colonies.
The argument is that there were no natural born citizens before July 4th, 1776. My question is - who would the New York ratifying convention consider to be a citizens before 7/4/1776?