HISTORY. The first explorer of this region was Champlain (q.v.), who, in 1609, sailed up the lake which hears his name. The country was said to be inhabited by the Iroquois, but this is doubtful. No settlements were made until 1665, when the French built Fort Saint Anne on Isle la Matte. Frequent French incursions were made through 'the Wilderness' against New England and New York, and in 1696 seigniories were granted. Massachusetts built Fort Dummer in 1724 on the site of Brattleboro, and in 1728 a trading house was opened here. French forts were built at Chimney Point and Crown Point in 1730-31, and much loss was inflicted on the English settlers by roving bands who used these posts as headquarters. English blockhouses were built and many battles were fought after 1744. The French abandoned all posts in 1757 except Isle anx Noix, and this was taken the next year. In 1732 Colonel John Henry Lydius bought of the Mohawks a tract of land corresponding nearly to the present counties of Addison and Rutland, and this purchase was confirmed by Governor Shirley, of Massachusetts, in 1744. New Ramp' shire claimed the territory to a line drawn 20 miles east of the Hudson River, i.e. as far as the border of the Massachusetts territory, and after 1749 Governor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, made lavish grants, and small settlements sprang up everywhere. New York, though she had ac quiesced in the Massachusetts boundary, claimed this territory to the Connecticut River. Procla mations and counter-proclamations were issued, but in 1764 a royal order was issued declaring the Connecticut the boundary between New Hamp shire and New York. The New York Government considered this to mean that the New Hampshire were annulled, and ordered the settlers to repurchase from New York. This was generally refused, and the settlers secured, in 1767, another royal order forbidding the granting of disputed lands until further instructions. New York con tinued, however, to grant the lands not previously sold. A convention of settlers was held at Ben nington and they determined to resist by force any processes of the New York courts. The grand jury at Albany in 1770 indicted sonic of them as rioters, and several were arrested in 1771. Com mittees of safety were organized in the several towns, and it was decreed that no New York officer should take any one out of the district without consent of the committee. To enforce these rules the 'Green Alountain Boys' were or ganized under Ethan Allen (q.v.) and others, and they prepared to resist a reported expedition under Governor Tryon, who, however, ordered all prosecutions stopped until the matter might be submitted to the King. Nevertheless some grantees were dispossessed. The New York As sembly offered a reward of £100 for Ethan Allen or Remember Baker in 1774, but to no effect. At Westminster in the east a contest between a sheriff's posse and citizens resulted in the 'West minster Massacre' on March 13, 1775. in April a convention met there and proclaimed the ter ritory independent of New York, but declared itself willing to await the King's pleasure as to whether it should become a separate province or be annexed to some other province.
During the Revolution the colonists waged practically a separate war against. the British and Indians. The capture of Ticonderoga, May 10, 1775, was almost entirely the work of the 'Green Mountain Boys.' in January, 1776, a con vention at Dorset sent a commission to Congress, which, however, would not consider the proposi tion of making a new State. On January 15, 1777. another convention met at Westminster, and declared the territory an independent State with the name New Connecticut, and asked for admission. The present name was substituted in June, at the advice of Dr. Thomas Young, of Philadelphia, and a constitution similar to that of Pennsylvania was adopted, but with a clause prohibiting slavery, The government went into effect March 12, 177$, and sixteen towns east of the Connectieut River were nnited to the State in June, lint the union was dissolved the next year, lieeause of the resentment of New Hamp shire. which now began to press its elaim to the territory. New York also renewed its claims. No actual was taken by Congress, and in retalia tion Vermont extended its jurisdiction over the New Hampshire towns and over New York east of the Hudson, lint, owing to the advice of Washing ton. the claim was given up February 22, 1781.
After the of the Revolution a gradual change in feeling took place in New York, and on July 15. 1789, a commission to treat with Ver mont was appointed. in October, 1790, it was agreed that New York should cease to the admission of Vermont to the Union on pay ment of i30,000 for disputed land claims. This was soon paid, and the State became a member of the Union March 4. 1791, the first State admitted under the Constitution.
The State was more democratic from the begin ning than any other of the New England States. There were no rich and no aristocracy. The capital was laid out at Montpelier, the geographical centre of the State, iu 1808. The University of Vermont was incorporated in 1791 and the first class graduated in 1804. There was considerable emigration after 1825, but there has been a grad ual settlement of French Canadians to replace those departing. The State furnished more than its quota during the Civil War. Some Southern sympathizers from Canada invaded the town of Saint Albans in October, 1864, and this was made a point in the Geneva Arbitration. The Fenian operations against Canada, in 1860 and 1870, had their base in this town. The State adopted a prohibitory amendment to the Constitution in 1852, but abandoned the policy of prohibition in 1902, when the voters of the State declared for high license. This measure. amounting to local option regulation. became law in 1903.
In 1792, 1706, and 1800. the State was car ried for Federalist electors, but was Demo cratic-Republican thereafter to 1824. In that year, and again in 1828, the Adams Republi cans were successful. In 1S32 the vote was cast for the Anti-Masonic candidate. After that time it was steadfastly Whig to 1852, and has been Republican, by large majorities, ever since.