In 1609, when French explorer Samuel de Champlain first traveled on the lake which was to bear his name, Vermont land was occupied mainly by Algonquin, Mohawk, and Iroquois Indians. The first permanent settlement was not made until 1724 when the English from Massachusetts colonized Fort Drummer in the upper Connecticut River Valley. The English and the French had frequent disputes regarding ownership of the area, which the French considered to be a part of Canada. When the French tried to annihilate the Mohawk and Iroquois Indians in Vermont, the British led the Iroquois on a campaign against the French and the Algonquin settlements south of Montreal. Conflicts between the French, the English, and the Native Americans ensued for several years, culminating in the French and Indian Wars.
After the French and Indian Wars ended in 1763, England officially took possession of Vermont, and pioneers spread quickly across the region. Vermont ownership disputes then began to erupt between the colonies of New York and New Hampshire. Just prior to the American Revolution, Ethan Allen organized an independent volunteer militia, known as the Green Mountain Boys, to repulse New Yorkers, New Hampshireans, and Englishmen alike in order to establish Vermont as an independent entity. In 1775, Allen's Green Mountain Boys and sympathizers from Massachusetts and Connecticut captured Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point in what were some of the earliest military successes of the colonists against the British. During the Revolution, while American troops were retreating from Fort Ticonderoga, they were surprised by an advancing British battalion, and fought in a minor skirmish at Hubbardton on July 7, 1777. One month later, west of Bennington, Vermont in East Hoosick, New York, the Battle of Bennington took place. Today, the Bennington Battle Monument stands in Vermont, marking the site which British General John Burgoyne had tried to secure.
For several years after the Revolution, Vermont denied being part of the thirteen original colonies and declared its independence as the republic of New Connecticut. Because of the state's determination to be its own separate entity, its legislature was indifferent about ratifying the U.S. Constitution in 1787. It was not until 1791 that Vermont finally approved the new constitution and thus became the first state outside of the original thirteen to be admitted to the Union. As a new state, Vermont held much promise for growth and progress, especially considering that in 1800 approximately two-thirds of all of its residents were less than twenty-six years old. The state's economy began to thrive on timber, agriculture, gristmills, tanneries, breweries, paper mills, and iron mining.
The years which immediately preceded the War of 1812 were difficult ones for Vermonters. Between droughts, floods, and epidemics such as "spotted fever," Vermont's economy all but died. As a result, many of the people evacuated the state. Even the war itself proved to be an impediment to Vermont's economy as President Jefferson attempted to close trade in the Champlain Valley as an extension of his embargo on trade with England. Though many Vermonters ignored the embargo and were not supportive of the war, many others supported the United States by traveling to Plattsburgh, New York to fight against the British. With Vermont timber, ships for the war were built at Vergennes. These ships, built by Vermont Lt. Thomas Macdonough, helped the United States to defeat the British during a naval attack on the city of Burlington in 1814. The decisive battle, known as the Battle of Plattsburgh, secured America's claim to Lake Champlain.
After the war, Vermonters began to realize that much of their natural resources were being depleted. Among these endangered resources were timber, otters, and fish. The building of the Champlain-Hudson Canal in 1823 helped Vermont's economy a bit, but it was not until 1840 that industrialization began to make a marked difference in the state's situation. The building of the railroads in 1848 added to the thrust of manufacturing which was now beginning to dominate Vermont. The wool industry, in particular, became an important part of the state's income, and Irish immigrants and French Canadians journeyed to Vermont to take advantage of the employment opportunities. Despite the influx of immigrants, however, Vermont remained a prototypical Yankee state, entrenched in the Protestant religion.
Vermont's constitution was the first state constitution to prohibit slavery, and by the 1830's, Vermont held stronger abolitionist sentiment than any other state. During the Civil War, Vermont sent a substantial portion of its population to fight for the Union cause. In total, Vermont lost more than 5,000 of its men, but the only military action which occurred in the state was when a group of renegade Confederate soldiers came down from Canada to rob banks in St. Albans. After the war, Vermont lacked the power it needed to modernize, and the state has remained relatively rural ever since. In the late 1800's even agriculture began to decline in the state; a trend that has not improved much in the 20th century.
Although famous Democrat Stephen A. Douglas was born in Vermont, it traditionally has been a predominantly Republican state. In 1912, Vermont and Utah were the only states that voted for W.H. Taft for the Presidency, and in 1936, Vermont and Maine were the only states that voted for Alfred Landon of Kansas against Franklin Delano Roosevelt in the Presidential election. The economic boom preceding the Great Depression in the 1930's never reached this isolated state, so when the depression actually came it had little effect on Vermont. In fact, after the stock market crashed in 1929, Vermont and Rhode Island were the only two states in the country whose banks did not close.
Today, Vermont's town-meeting type of government provides its residents ample opportunity to voice their opinions publicly on issues concerning the state. Vermont legislators do not have offices or secretaries. If a person wants to hold a meeting with his or her representative, they can usually be found sitting in the lobby of the Statehouse talking politics on the couch. Vermont has more cows per capita than any other state, and it is actually more forested today than it was 100 years ago. Dairy farming and tourism, especially skiing, are Vermont's largest industries, and tiny specialized industries like the manufacturing of fishing rods, hockey sticks, and ice cream help to sustain the Green Mountain State's economy as well.
Visiting the State
Bennington Museum has the first "Stars and Stripes," a collection of paintings by Anna Mary Robertson "Grandma" Moses; the Bennington Battle Monument.
Billings Farm and Museum, in Woodstock, celebrates Vermont's family farm heritage.
Burlington, located on Lake Champlain, was the birthplace of John Dewey and the burial place of Ethan Allen. Every June it hosts the Discover Jazz Festival. Burlington is also the site of the University of Vermont.
Tourists can take scenic canoe explorations of Vermont down the Connecticut River, from the town of Brattleboro.
The historic Creamery Bridge, built in 1879, at Brattleboro.
The Green Mountain National Forest features many ski resorts and quality hiking trails, such as the Appalachian Trail and the Long Trail.
Vermont features over 50 local historical societies, including Green Mountain Folklore Society.
Lake Champlain, on the Western border, features summer sporting activities, ferry crossings, and unsurpassable scenic beauty.
Marlboro Music Festival
Montpelier, settled in 1787, is a quaint capital city which features the Dewey House, the Wood Art Gallery, and other historical and scenic landmarks.
Rock of Ages Quarry, in Barre.
Shelburne Farms, in Shelburne, is a nonprofit organization and national historic site which teaches visitors about natural and agricultural resources. Also, the Shelburne Museum is also known "The Museum of the American Spirit."
Sugarbush Valley, Killington, Stowe, and Mt. Snow ski areas
Historic town of Windsor; the Vermont State Craft Center at Windsor House.
Famous Vermonters
Ethan Allen (b. CONN 1738-1789) Revolutionary War soldier and founder of the Vermont's militia, the Green Mountain Boys.
Chester Alan Arthur (1830-1886) 21st president of the United States. Born Fairfield, Vermont.
Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933) 30th president of the United States. Born Plymouth, Vermont.
John Dewey (1859-1952) Philosopher, Columbia University professor, and psychologist who developed important theories about "learning by doing" and individualized instruction. Born Burlington, Vermont.
Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) Political leader known as the "Little Giant"; secretary of State of Illinois and member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Born in Vermont.
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) Founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, also known as the Mormon Church. Born Sharon, Vermont.
Fascinating Fact
Vermont features more than 100 covered bridges, many of which are located off the beaten path. The oldest covered bridge in Vermont is the Pulp Mill Bridge at Middlebury, built in 1820. The Scott Covered Bridge in Townshend has the longest single sectional span (165.7') of any other covered bridge in the state.
Vermont adopted its state flag in 1923. The flag features a blue background upon which is the coat of arms. The branches of pine below the coat of arms commemorate the 1814 Battle of Plattsburgh.
