Poland was partitioned between Russia, Prussia, and A-H when the US was born--and didn't reappear as its own country until after WWI,.
Some outlying territories of the Ottoman Empire (like Tunisia) were de facto independent as Barbary States circa 1800 and were not colonized by France until the 1880s. The US had plenty of reasons early in its history to establish relations with them to pay tribute (or later fight the Barbary Wars).
Some outlying territories of the Ottoman Empire (like Tunisia) were de facto independent as Barbary States circa 1800 and were not colonized by France until the 1880s. The US had plenty of reasons early in its history to establish relations with them to pay tribute (or later fight the Barbary Wars).