Was Vermont One of the 13 Colonies? The Real Answer

No — Vermont was not one of the original 13 colonies. When the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the land that is now Vermont was contested territory claimed by both New York and New Hampshire. It did not become a separate, recognized entity until after the Revolutionary War. Vermont did, however, become the 14th state to join the Union, entering in 1791. So if you’ve ever wondered “was Vermont one of the 13 colonies,” the short answer is no — but the full story explains why the confusion exists.

Why Vermont Wasn’t a Colony

The 13 colonies were Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, Connecticut, Massachusetts Bay, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Virginia, New York, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Each had an established colonial government tied to the British crown. Vermont was not on that list because it simply didn’t exist as a colony.

The territory between New York and New Hampshire was disputed for decades. Both colonies claimed the land, and settlers who moved there — many holding land grants from New Hampshire — found their titles challenged by New York. Those disputed grants became known as the New Hampshire Grants. When New York courts began ruling against the settlers’ claims, the situation turned confrontational, and a militia group called the Green Mountain Boys formed to defend the settlers’ interests. Their most famous leader was Ethan Allen. The militia would later play a role in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775 — an event often cited by people asking whether Vermont was a colony. But fighting in the Revolution didn’t make the territory a colony. Vermont was still legally claimed by other states, not recognized as its own colonial government under Britain (National Park Service).

The Republic of Vermont

In 1777, the territory declared itself an independent republic — the Vermont Republic. It adopted its own constitution, which notably included a provision prohibiting adult slavery. This republic existed for 14 years.

The Continental Congress was reluctant to recognize Vermont because doing so would upset New York and New Hampshire, whose claims were still unresolved. Recognizing a new state carved out of existing states’ territory could have weakened the fragile union during the war. So Vermont operated independently, with its own government, currency, and postal system. This independent period is a key reason the answer to whether Vermont was one of the 13 colonies is a firm no. It was self-governing, but it was not one of the original British colonies and it was not yet part of the United States (Vermont Historical Society).

How Vermont Became a State

After the Constitution was ratified and the new federal government took shape, the question of Vermont’s status resurfaced. New York finally agreed to drop its claim in 1790, clearing the way for Vermont to join the Union.

On March 4, 1791, Vermont was admitted as the 14th state. It was the first state added after the original 13. So while it wasn’t a colony, it was the first expansion of the United States beyond the founding states.

To make the timeline clear: the original 13 colonies were established under British rule before 1776. Vermont declared independence as the Vermont Republic in 1777 and joined the U.S. as a state in 1791. That 14-year gap between independence and statehood is what sets Vermont apart from the original states.

Common Confusion

Some people assume Vermont was a colony because it was part of New England, had settlers from neighboring colonies, and participated in the Revolution. But participation in the war and geographic location don’t make a colony. The defining factor is whether a territory had an established colonial government under British authority — and Vermont did not.

Others confuse the Vermont Republic with a colony. It was an independent nation during its 14 years, not a British possession. That distinction matters for anyone studying early American history or trying to understand the map of the original states.

A Worked Example

Consider a settler who received a land grant from New Hampshire in the 1760s. After moving to the property, he might be told by a New York court that his title was invalid and that he owed fees to New York instead. His options were limited: pay, leave, or resist. Many chose resistance, which is how the Green Mountain Boys came to exist. That settler was living in a place that answered to no single recognized government — the opposite of life in an established colony like Connecticut or Maryland, where authority was clear. When you look at historical records from the founding era, Vermont is consistently treated as separate from the 13 colonies. The Library of Congress and National Archives both document Vermont’s admission as the 14th state in 1791 — after the original 13 had already formed the United States.

Key Takeaways

• Vermont was not one of the 13 original colonies; it was claimed by both New York and New Hampshire.
• The territory declared itself the independent Vermont Republic in 1777 and governed itself for 14 years.
• Vermont joined the Union on March 4, 1791, becoming the 14th state — the first added after the original 13.
• Confusion often arises because Vermont was in New England and fought in the Revolution, but neither makes it a colony.
• The key distinction: the 13 colonies had British colonial governments; Vermont did not.