ASPPA Connect will not be appearing on Monday, July 4, as our offices will be closed on that day in observance of Independence Day; however, it will be back to business as usual on Wednesday, July 6.
While this holiday celebrates the independence of the United States, it’s interesting to note that some states have been just a wee bit impatient and took matters in their own hands.
North Carolina
On May 19, 1775, 24 citizens of Mecklenburg County, at the suggestion of local colonel Thomas Polk, met to discuss the colonies’ deteriorating relationship with Great Britain. But when they learned about the Battle of Lexington one month before in Massachusetts, on May 20 they adopted the Mecklenburg Declaration, which included the declaration that “we the citizens of Mecklenburg County, do hereby dissolve the political bands which have connected us to the Mother Country, and…declare ourselves a free and independent people…”
The North Carolina delegation to the Second Continental Congress, which was meeting in Philadelphia, considered it premature and did not share it with the other delegates.
Vermont
Vermonters in late colonial times lived in a disputed zone. Both New Hampshire, a colony that thoughout its history aggressively expanded and sought more territory, and already powerful New York, claimed it for themselves. But the Green Mountain Boys thought differently, and when the Revolutionary War broke out, they seized the opportunity. On Jan. 15, 1777, Vermonters met in Westminster, VT and declared independence from everyone. On July 8, 1777, a convention of delegates adopted a constitution.
After the end of the Revolutionary War, the U.S. Congress refused to acknowledge that Vermont was a state throughout the 1780s, and even in the first years after the Constitution was ratified. Vermont finally became the 14th state in 1791, two years into George Washington’s first term as U.S. President.
California
There is a reason why the California state flag has the words “California Republic” on it.
On June 14, 1846, a group of 30 Americans came to Sonoma; they were ready to take the town by force, but instead had some brandy with Col. Mariano Vallejo of the Mexican Army and accepted his surrender. And just like that, California became an independent nation. But on July 7, the U.S. Navy seized Monterey and declared California part of the United States; Californians formally agreed to it in 1847.
Texas
In 1826, the Fredonian Rebellion broke out between Mexican and American settlers in what was then the Mexican territory of Texas. Texans’ desire for more power and for formal status for the territory within Mexico simmered and were frustrated during the next nine years. On March 2, 1836, the Texas revolutionary government declared independence from Mexico, and Mexican dictator Santa Ana eventually agreed to it.
Texas sought annexation by the United States, but was an independent republic until 1845, when Texas finally became the 28th state.
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