Vermont was admitted to the United States as the 14th state in 1791.
Vermont joined the Union on March 4, 1791, after the original Thirteen Colonies had become states. It was the first state admitted beyond the original colonial group. Before admission, Vermont had operated as the independent Vermont Republic from 1777 to 1791.
The territory’s political status had been disputed by New York and New Hampshire. Vermont’s leaders declared independence, established a constitution, and defended the territory during the Revolutionary era. A settlement with New York cleared the way for federal admission after Vermont agreed to pay compensation.
Vermont’s admission is sometimes confused with Kentucky’s, which became the 15th state later in 1792. Tennessee followed in 1796, and Maine became the 23rd state in 1820. Vermont’s entry also helped maintain political balance between free and slave states in the early Union.