The Republic of Vermont: 1777 - 1791

The Vermont Republic (1777 - 1791) had a brief but politically rich existence. Some might argue that it owed its existence to Ethan and Ira Allen's desire to expand their control of this newly settled region. Others would describe the creation of the Republic as the Allens' skillful political response to the competing factions in the Continental Congress who wanted control of parts of Vermont for their own colonies. However one looks at it, the Republic was certainly the reason that Vermont survived as an entity long enough to become the fourteenth state of the United States of America.

The Vermont Republic set a tone for Vermonters that would echo down through the centuries to this day. Independent, suspicious of outsiders' motives, determined to go their own way and do the right thing. In 1777, the Westminster Conventions drafted a constitution and declared "New Connecticut alias Vermont" an independent state. The constitution resembled Pennsylvania's, but went further than others had before in that it granted full citizenship to all adult males regardless of property ownership, outlawed slavery, and set the rules for an independent nation which nevertheless contemplated admission to the United States if the Continental Congress should ever resolve its deadlock of competing claims to her territory.

For more details, see the excellent on-line account by Michael J. Badamo entitled, The Republic of Vermont, 1777-1791: A Short History.