Vermont History Fact Sheet

Vermont, as the fourteenth state admitted to the Union, was different in its origins from the thirteen states that preceded it. Henry Leonard Stillson tells us that he procured the following description of Vermont's early history from Professor Charles S. Davis, written originally for the Centennial Banner :

Vermont, unlike any other New England State, was once an independent commonwealth. The original thirteen Colonies never had a separate, independent existence. Each was founded as a ward or dependency of some European power and held that relation until the Colonies unitedly declared themselves free and independent, in 1776, and as one body proceeded to throw off the dominion of Great Britain.

None of them ever made serious claim to a free and independent existence. In that respect Vermont differs from them all. For fourteen years she was held by her citizens to be as free from other governmental connection as any monarchy of the old world. She was not a dependency of Great Britain. She was in no political way bound to her sister states, but during the period named, she was to all intents and purposes an independent nation. (1)

The subsequent information on Vermont's early history is culled from Stillson's source as noted above, but is presented in outline form for ease of readability:

1770 – 1777

Settlement of Vermont People came from Connecticut, New Hampshire and Massachusetts. They were strong, aggressive, liberty-loving farmers who believed in separation of church and state. They had a practical knowledge of civil affairs, but believed in the Bible.

1749

These Green Mountain settlers purchased a part of this territory from New Hampshire under the title of the New Hampshire Grants.

1764

The King of England arbitrarily moved the boundary of NY to the west bank of the Connecticut River. Now all settlers in Vermont had to acquire new land titles from NY.

1771

Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain settlers defended the rights of those holding lands on the New Hampshire grants.

1777

Vermont declared its independence with the territory formed from the Grants at a series of conventions - 56 delegates representing 36 towns. "These delegates by resolution declared 'That the district of territory comprehending and usually known by the name and description of the New Hampshire Grants, of right ought to be, and is hereby declared forever hereafter to be considered as a free and independent Jurisdiction or State, by the name of New
Connecticut.(2)

June 1777

At Windsor, "New Connecticut" was changed to "Vermont"

June 30, 1777

Congress dismissed the petition of Vermont to become part of the Federal Union. Congress was not ready to deny the authority of NY over the territory of the New Hampshire Grants. Vermont established itself as an independent state with a Governor and Council, but the territorial dispute with NY continued. There were appeals to Congress from time to time, but Congress chose to stay out of these quarrels and let the two sides settle it themselves.

July 2, 1777

At Windsor representatives met to form a Constitution for the State of Vermont. The Constitution was adopted.

Jan., 1781

Representatives from all the towns 20 miles east of the Connecticut River met and applied for admission to Vermont. A similar application was made by people of towns from NY east of the Hudson River. Meanwhile, England, in letters to Ethan Allen, proposed an alliance of Vermont with the Crown.

March 9, 1781

Ethan Allen forwarded these letters to the President of the Congress with the request that Vermont be admitted to the Union.

July 18, 1781

Vermont Governor Chittenden formally claimed the territory of New York west to the Hudson River, and from New Hampshire all the territory 20 miles to the east from the Connecticut River. New York and New Hampshire each still claimed Vermont as theirs. Now both NY and NH strongly opposed Vermont's admission to the Union until it would first restore the territories it claimed back to NY and NH.

August 20, 1781

Congress offered Vermont admission to the Union with the original area of territory. The Vermont General Assembly declined to accept because it refused to give up the east and west additions.

January, 1782

Gov. Chittenden presented to the Vermont Legislature a letter from General George Washington in which he urged Vermont to give up the newer territories.

Feb. 21, 1782

Vermont Legislature voted to give up the newer territories and again to apply to Congress for admission to the Union.

March, 1782

A committee of Congress reported favorably upon the question of Vermont's admission, but took no action.

Dec. 5, 1782

Congress "passed resolutions of a nature entirely hostile to Vermont, and threatened to enforce them by armed invasion of the State." George Washington objected and Congress hesitated to enforce its resolution. (3)

Apr. 26, 1784

Governor Chittenden wrote a letter that was very resentful of Congress' interference. Congress responded by referring to an earlier committee that had worked on Vermont's admission to the Union, asking them to review it again.

May 29, 1784

The committee gave a favorable report.

June 3, 1784

The vote for Vermont's admission was postponed by the Continental Congress.

From then on, until admission in 1791, Vermont operated as a free and independent country. Finally it became clear to "leading men everywhere, even in New York, whether it were not for the interests of all to secure Vermont's admission to the Union." (4)

Oct. 23, 1789

Vermont Legislature made appointments and commissioners of the New York Legislature were appointed to settle all questions regarding New York claims of land in Vermont.

Oct. 28, 1790

Vermont Legislature voted to pay New York $30,000 to end all claims by New York to property in Vermont.

Jan. 6, 1791

A convention was called in Bennington to consider the adoption of the U.S. Constitution.

Jan. 10, 1791

A vote to adopt passed by a vote of 105 to 2. At the same time the Legislature appointed a committee to negotiate with Congress terms of Vermont's admission into the Union.

Feb. 18, 1791

Congress passed an act stating "'That on the 4th day of March, 1791, the said State, by the name and style of the State of Vermont, shall be received into this Union as a new and entire member of the United States of America.(5)

The story of how Vermont became a State drew attention far and wide in those early times. The honesty and independence of its people attracted the admiration of many. Over the years Vermont has been known for seeking justice for itself and for others. In the cause of slavery, Vermont was in the forefront of defending the human rights of Blacks in Southern fields during the Civil War. And, in a final quote from this section, Stillson tells us:

"As her mountain hamlets have been in the past, so they will be in the future, nurseries of freedom as enduring as her beauty and her everlasting hills." (6)

(1) The Dedication of the Bennington Battle Monument, and Celebration of the Hundredth Anniversary of the Admission of Vermont as a State, at Bennington, August 19, A.D., 1891 (Bennington: Banner Book, 1892), p. 53.

(2) Stillson p. 56.

(3) Stillson p. 60.

(4) Stillson p. 61.

(5) Stillson p. 61.

(6) Stillson p. 62.