Vermont was the first state admitted to the United States after the original thirteen states.
Congress admitted Vermont to the Union on March 4, 1791, making it the fourteenth state. Vermont had operated as an independent republic from 1777 until its admission, although New York and New Hampshire had both claimed the territory during earlier periods.
The dispute over Vermont’s status was resolved through negotiations with New York. Vermont agreed to pay New York $30,000 in compensation for relinquishing its claim. Vermont’s admission was followed by Kentucky on June 1, 1792, and Tennessee on June 1, 1796.
Vermont’s early history is distinct from that of the thirteen colonies that declared independence in 1776. The Vermont Republic issued its own constitution and currency and maintained an independent government before joining the United States. Its admission expanded the Union beyond the original revolutionary states.