What US government? Prior to the constitution there was only the articles of confederation. There was no US. What happened as new states got added was irrele

What US government? Prior to the constitution there was only the articles of confederation. There was no US. What happened as new states got added was irrelevant - the constitution already existed by then. It was the smaller states of the original thirteen that had to be convinced, not territories. And yes, they had a number of options, and that's why the more populous states acceded to a bicameral legislature and the electoral college.