Every Day Is Special: Vermont

Showing posts with label Vermont. Show all posts

February 18 – Let's Make It Official, Vermont!

Posted on February 18, 2018

I have written before about Vermont's statehood anniversary, on March 4, but I didn't realize that Vermont had years of being a kinda-sorta state before its 1791 statehood.

Vermonters are such independent sorts, aren't they? I mean, they even have an independent senator - the famous-and-fiery Bernie Sanders.

Well, that independent streak started a looooooong time ago! In January of 1777, folks from 28 towns in what we now call Vermont met and declared independence from everyone. And what I mean by "everyone" is the British colony of Quebec, the American state of New Hampshire, and the American state of New York. All these political entities laid claim to some or all of Vermont.

The 13 original colonies, and the 13 original states, include both New Hampshire and New York. Many Vermonters wanted to join the new nation as a separate 14th state, but New York leaders in particular threw fits over the idea of losing what they considered their territory, so the Continental Congress didn't recognize a separate Vermont.

So, reluctantly, the delegates from those Vermont towns declared themselves a separate Republic.

At first, the new government went by the name "the Republic of New Connecticut." Then that was changed to "the Republic of the Green Mountains." (Ethan Allen had created a militia called the Green Mountain Boys.) Finally, in June of 1977, the name Vermont was adopted. This name comes from the French translation of "the Green Mountains": les Verts Monts.

Vermont was de facto independent, since the government that was set up did, in fact, rule the region. In 1777 the Vermont government abolished slavery within its borders -something that nobody else had done. The government adopted an official flag, minted copper coins (which were labeled Vermontis. Res. Publica) and ran a postal system.

However, Vermont was also de facto a U.S. state. Even though it wasn't recognized as a separate state that was represented in Congress, the American government did consider the land to be part of the nation. For their part, the folks running Vermont's government seemed to consider themselves a U.S. state at least as often as they considered themselves a separate republic. Many of the official documents said "State of Vermont," the chief executive was called a governor, not a president, and Vermonters in general seemed to assume that they would eventually join the U.S.

"De facto" means "in fact," or "in reality." Vermont wasn't officially recognized as a separate state, but it was in reality functioning as one.

It took so long to become an official part of the United States of America, some Vermonters started talking to the British Province of Quebec, considering the possibility of joining up with that larger political entity (now a part of the nation of Canada).

Those negotiations failed. So other Vermonters met with New York officials to settle their border dispute. Vermont ended up paying a chunk of money to distribute to New Yorkers who claimed land in Vermont. And on this date in 1791, Congress passed a resolution dictating that on March 4 of that year, Vermont would be admitted to the United States of America.

It really did manage to be the 14th state admitted, by the way...

Now, enjoy a bit of Vermont in chilly February:

Also on this date:

National Hate Florida Day

Auto designer Enzo Ferrari's birthday

Pluto Day

Cow Milked While Flying in an Airplane Day

Battery Day

Independence Day in Gambia

Stained-glass artist Louis Comfort Tiffany's birthday

Anniversary of the invention of the modern vacuum

Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast Day

Plan ahead:

Check out my Pinterest boards for:

February holidays
February birthdays
Historical anniversaries in February

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

March 7 - Town Meeting Day in Vermont

Posted on March 7, 2017

Democracy is, basically, rule OF the people BY the people.

There are very few large groups of people who are ruled by pure democracy. Here's why: it becomes pretty much impossible for all of the people in a nation to sit down together in one group and discuss and then vote on the laws of the land. The same is true of modern states and provinces and counties and even cities.

Our governed groups are just too big for us all to sit down in a giant sharing circle and talk things out!

Large groups must utilize what is called "representational democracy"; people elect representatives who meet to discuss and vote on laws.

Small groups such as some private schools (Sudbury Valley school is famous for this), villages, towns, and families CAN have direct, pure democracy.

Vermont towns are famous for their town meetings, which have been called democracy being practiced in its purest form.

All the legal voters in a town are invited to get together to air their grievances (complaints) and bring up new business such as plans for the future.

Most Vermont town meetings happen on the first Tuesday of March (today!), but towns and cities can vote to choose another date. There are lots of rules about the town meetings. Most important is the rule that any "articles" (which I gather are proposed laws and policies and changes) must be publicly posted in at least two places between 30 to 40 days ahead of the town meeting. This gives people warning so that they can read up on and discuss articles and so that they can be sure to go to the town meeting to vote on the article.

Towns make the choice between pre-printed paper ballots or floor voting.

At the town meeting, typically Vermonters choose their town officials, approve zoning by-laws and the town budget, authorize borrowing money, and so forth.

Also on this date:

Sock Monkey Day

Cereal Day

Artist Piet Mondrian's birthday

Evolution of Games Day – Baseball and Monopoly Edition

Scientist Stanley Miller's birthday

Anniversary of “We Are the World”

Plan ahead:

And here are my Pinterest boards for:

August 16 – Bennington Battle Day in Vermont

Posted on August 16, 2016

Many states in the U.S. have “state holidays” that are celebrated only in that state. This is one such – today Vermonters commemorate an American victory over the British, on this date in 1777, during the Revolutionary War. The battle is called the Battle of Bennington (Bennington being a town in Vermont).

Strangely enough, the actual battle took place in New York, not Vermont!

You see, the British forces involved were on their way to raid Bennington, where the Revolutionary forces had horses, oxen, and supplies. Bennington is very close to the New York border - and when Revolutionary troops met the British troops in battle, they happened to be in New York.

The British general needed supplies, and he needed horses, especially pack horses. He thought that Bennington, Vermont, had little in the way of defense, so he sent 700 of his soldiers to raid the town and steal the supplies and animals the British army needed.

Like I said, he thought that Bennington had little in the way of defense...But he was wrong.

Bennington was guarded by General John Stark and about 1,500 Vermont militiamen, including Colonel Seth Warner and some of the Green Mountain Boys. Stark's army surrounded the British soldiers, took a lot of prisoners, killed the leader, and were ready to call the battle over – when reinforcements for both sides arrived, so the battle got started again.

Still, Stark and Warner and the Vermonters were able to inflict heavy casualties and drive away the rest of the reinforcements, reducing the British troops by about 1,000 soldiers (about 200 died and about 700 were captured)! This victory also caused some of the Indian groups who were willing to soldier for the British to abandon them. Last but not least, the American victory deprived the British forces still in the region of much-needed supplies – which is why that portion of the British army surrendered later that year.

Because of the victory, colonists were inspired to support the Revolutionary forces even more strongly, and this victory was also an important factor in France deciding to enter the war on the rebel side.

By the way...

When I read things like “The British general sent 700 of his soldiers,” I picture soldiers who came over from Great Britain – you know, England, Scotland, Wales – to fight against the rebelling American colonists. But this particular group of 700 was apparently mostly German-soldiers-for-hire (most of them called Hessians), plus some Canadians, some colonists who were loyal to Britain (called Loyalists), and some Indians!

How is Bennington Battle Day celebrated?

There is a battle re-enactment, of course. There is also a parade and other “festivities.” I am not sure what the festivities consist of, but I hope there is a healthy dose of wild rumpus-ing. (I'm a huge fan of Where the Wild Things Are.)