The History of the Green Mountain State
Vermont has been made famous by its unparalleled maple syrup industry, but the state itself actually has a rich history dating back to the colonial era. First encountered by Europeans in 1535, when Jacques Carter stumbled upon the mountainous region as part of his exploration of the St. Lawrence River, native Vermontan families can trace their history across an array of inhabiting cultures and nationalities.
In 1609, Samuel de Champlain, for whom Vermont’s Lake Champlain was named, claimed the area as part of “New France.” De Champlain proceeded to found the first European settlement in Vermont. It was not long before Europe’s other superpowers laid claim upon the state. Just over seventy years later, in 1690, Dutch and British settlers united to form trading post known as “Chimney Point,” where Addison County lies today. The first British permanent British settlement in the area, Fort Dummer, was erected not long after in 1724. However, the region continued to be most heavily dominated by the French, who added forts and settlements across the state. French control lasted until 1959, when a legion of 12,000 British troops finally ousted the French military, after many failed attempts by Great Britain throughout the 1750’s. The Treaty of Paris, marking the defeat of France in the French and Indian War, brought an official end to the French reign and secured British rule.
When King George refused to acknowledge settlers claiming New Hampshire land titles, instead giving legal authority to New York, local heroes Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys formed a militia to resist New York’s control. In 1777, the heated controversy came to fruition with the foundation of the Vermont Republic . The Green Mountain Boys served as the republic’s militia, later joining in on the nation’s larger fight against the British in the American Revolution. When Vermont joined the United States as the 14th state in 1791, militia was no longer actively needed, though it resurfaced during the War of 1812 and Civil War. Today, the Vermont National Guard still holds dear to its heritage claiming the title “Green Mountain Boys” as its own moniker.