Four of the current United States were independent republics – Texas, California, Hawaii and Vermont.  Vermont declared itself an independent republic in 1777 and remained so until 1791 due to ongoing disputes with neighboring New York, which claimed the land as part of the new state of New York.  The Republic of Vermont adopted its own constitution and operated as a de facto independent country and not part of the United States (hence did not ratify the US Constitution) until 1791. In addition to having its own currency and postal service, Vermont also abolished slavery on July 2, 1777. In the 1780’s, Vermont’s legislature considered joining the Province of Quebec but when Britian agreed to the Treaty of Paris, ending the American Revolution and granting independence to the new nation, this petition was voted down.  Vermont settled its differences with New York in the early 1790’s and voted to ratify the U.S. Constitution and join the United States on March 4,1791.

The Vermont Republic was never officially recognized by the U.S. as a sovereign country, but it was recognized by Great Britian.  Warhawks in Congress petitioned several times to invade and annex Vermont, either as part of New York or as a separate territory but these factions never got the votes needed for an action. George Washington opposed military action against the republic in part because the country was “very mountainous” and its citizens were “a hardy race composed of that kind of people who are best calculated for soldiers.”

One wonders what would have been the consequences had Vermont never joined the USA and remained independent.

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