Which state became the fourteenth U.S. state in 1791?

Vermont became the fourteenth U.S. state on March 4, 1791.

Before statehood, Vermont functioned as an independent republic for more than a decade. It declared independence from disputed claims by New York and New Hampshire in 1777 and operated under its own constitution and government. Vermont’s admission followed a settlement with New York, which received $30,000 to withdraw its territorial claims.

Vermont was the first state admitted to the Union after the original thirteen states. Its entry came shortly before Kentucky joined on June 1, 1792. Vermont’s admission also helped preserve political balance between states that permitted slavery and states that did not; Vermont entered as a free state.

A common mistake is to place Vermont among the original thirteen colonies. It was not one of them. At the time of the Declaration of Independence, the area was contested and later operated separately before joining the United States.