Why is the U.S. foreign ministry called the "State Department"?

Question

What is the reasoning behind the somewhat odd and awkward naming of the U.S. Foreign Ministry as "State Department"? I get the department being the American equivalent of ministry but in what way does the word "state" relate to foreign affairs. This question is perhaps about more then just the etymology of the term and seeking to delve into the history that may have lead to such unusual naming?

Answer 1

Interestingly, the original idea was to create a "Department of Foreign Affairs" but there was no corresponding "Department of Domestic Affairs," so the Founders opted for a Department of State. The U.S. Constitution does not prescribe the organization of the Executive Branch and the first president, George Washington, established a cabinet consisting of Departments, each administered by a Secretary (an officer of state who superintends a government administrative department). The term state means "a politically organized body of people usually occupying a definite territory especially: one that is sovereign" (Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/state). Therefore, the Department of State represents the United States in its relations with other politically organized bodies - nation states. For information about the history of the State Department, see:https://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/short-history/framework