Lake Champlain Vermont.
South Hero Vermont lake reflections on an island in Lake Champlain.
Lake Champlain. During the War of Independence the corridor up from New York State and the Hudson River and the area around Lake Champlain up to the Canadian border was the site of a number of major battles including the decisive battles (in favour of the Americans) at Saratoga and Bennington. More troops were probably stationed in Vermont than any other area during the Revolutionary War. Vermont is the second smallest state in the US and has a low population of just over 600,000 people. The state capital is Montpelier with just 7,000 people. As a state its great claims to fame are that it was the first state to abolish slavery, it is the major producer of maple syrup in the US and it was created during the Revolution. It was admitted as the 14th state to the Union in 1791 just after the Union’s formation in 1789. Vermont was not one of the original 13 rebelling colonies as it did not exist in 1776. Its name was taken from the French ‘vert mont’ referring to the Green Mountains which form the backbone mountains of the state. Its eastern border is Lake Champlain and to the north is the Quebec province of Canada. The largest city is Burlington which has around 60,000 people. Dairying is the major agricultural industry. Much of the state is still covered in temperate deciduous forests which is why we have visited it. Lake Champlain which is 125 miles (200 kms) long, has 500 miles of coastline and around 80 islands. It drains northwards to Quebec and Montreal is just 73 miles or 118 kms from the city of Burlington as the crow flies, or 94 miles or 150 kms by road.
Ethan Allen. Before the American Revolution began Ethan Allen formed the Green Mountain Boys and led them in an early battle against the Red Coats to take Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. This was the first British stronghold taken by the Americans! His group numbered just 83 but the mighty British Fort fell to them after their pre-dawn crossing of Lake Champlain. After this Allen addressed the Continental Congress and got authority for the Green Mountain Boys to become part of the Continental Army. He then led a march on Montreal which was not successful and he was taken prisoner of war by the British before being released in 1778. He just had time after his release to meet up with General Washington and the troops at Valley Forge. The Vermont Republic was declared in 1777, whilst Ethan Allen was a prisoner of war. Vermont as a republic was a dream that he had cherished for some time. It had been part of New Hampshire State. The new republic drew up a constitution and was the first state in America to abolish slavery in its constitution of 1778 but it was not admitted to the US Union until 1791. Ethan Allen eventually took up land grants covering the area of present day Burlington. Allen remained committed to the colony of Vermont, took a great interest in politics and served as a judge during the Revolution to decide which Patriots (loyalists to Britain) would have their property confiscated. He tried hard to get Vermont admitted as a state but it took 13 years to achieve.
Lake Champlain Vermont.
South Hero Vermont lake reflections on an island in Lake Champlain.
Lake Champlain. During the War of Independence the corridor up from New York State and the Hudson River and the area around Lake Champlain up to the Canadian border was the site of a number of major battles including the decisive battles (in favour of the Americans) at Saratoga and Bennington. More troops were probably stationed in Vermont than any other area during the Revolutionary War. Vermont is the second smallest state in the US and has a low population of just over 600,000 people. The state capital is Montpelier with just 7,000 people. As a state its great claims to fame are that it was the first state to abolish slavery, it is the major producer of maple syrup in the US and it was created during the Revolution. It was admitted as the 14th state to the Union in 1791 just after the Union’s formation in 1789. Vermont was not one of the original 13 rebelling colonies as it did not exist in 1776. Its name was taken from the French ‘vert mont’ referring to the Green Mountains which form the backbone mountains of the state. Its eastern border is Lake Champlain and to the north is the Quebec province of Canada. The largest city is Burlington which has around 60,000 people. Dairying is the major agricultural industry. Much of the state is still covered in temperate deciduous forests which is why we have visited it. Lake Champlain which is 125 miles (200 kms) long, has 500 miles of coastline and around 80 islands. It drains northwards to Quebec and Montreal is just 73 miles or 118 kms from the city of Burlington as the crow flies, or 94 miles or 150 kms by road.
Ethan Allen. Before the American Revolution began Ethan Allen formed the Green Mountain Boys and led them in an early battle against the Red Coats to take Fort Ticonderoga in May 1775. This was the first British stronghold taken by the Americans! His group numbered just 83 but the mighty British Fort fell to them after their pre-dawn crossing of Lake Champlain. After this Allen addressed the Continental Congress and got authority for the Green Mountain Boys to become part of the Continental Army. He then led a march on Montreal which was not successful and he was taken prisoner of war by the British before being released in 1778. He just had time after his release to meet up with General Washington and the troops at Valley Forge. The Vermont Republic was declared in 1777, whilst Ethan Allen was a prisoner of war. Vermont as a republic was a dream that he had cherished for some time. It had been part of New Hampshire State. The new republic drew up a constitution and was the first state in America to abolish slavery in its constitution of 1778 but it was not admitted to the US Union until 1791. Ethan Allen eventually took up land grants covering the area of present day Burlington. Allen remained committed to the colony of Vermont, took a great interest in politics and served as a judge during the Revolution to decide which Patriots (loyalists to Britain) would have their property confiscated. He tried hard to get Vermont admitted as a state but it took 13 years to achieve.