Vermont
Very general overview map of Vermont.
In the world of the ASB, Vermont represents an area where the colony of New Hampshire illegally gave grants to settle in Dutch territory to some of its citizens and to some bands of Abenaki.[*1] In a classic divergence of interests, the British government refused to support the settlers, who spent decades fighting off Dutch officials on their own in a slow-paced conflict that was a constant threat to Anglo-Dutch relations.
In the 1760s, the conflict came to a head. Britain confirmed its recognition of Dutch authority in the land west of the Connecticut River, in effect disowning the Vermonters. The settlers formed a militia, the Green Mountain Boys, and then a republican government. This was probably a bluff meant to force Britain to re-assess the situation, but it drew the attention of French Canada. The French welcomed any disunity among their English rivals and were at the same moment stirring up trouble between Virginians and Pennsylvanians in the Ohio country.[*2] The Canadian governor extended recognition and friendship to the new republic, and after that there was really no going back.
Vermont is often compared with Upper Connecticut and Watauga, all small English-speaking states that began as independent settlement projects without support from the mother country. Its tradition of stubborn self-reliance is considered the "north pole" of the quintessence of New English culture; the "south pole" is represented by Martha's Vineyard with its his history of tolerance, sensible compromise, and a nautical tradition.
Today Vermont, like the rest of New England, is mostly English-speaking; but the southwest around Bennington has become largely Dutch, while the northern borderland has many French speakers from Canada. Memfremagog is about 50%-50% French and English. The Abenaki language has not fared particularly well here, since they intermarried with the ENglish and their children largely abandoned the Indian language; but some important pockets remain. St. Johnsbury in particular is known for its Abenaki culture; most road signs and shops in town are bilingual.
[*1] In the world of the ASB, it would be madness for settlers to begin a project without bringing along some friendly Indians. Without them they couldn't hope to defend a wide area by themselves, and the Indians' family connections in nearby villages would help them smooth over conflicts with their neighbors.
[*2] Another feature of the ASB is the intense rivalry among the English-speaking colonies. Today, descendants of those colonists identify as different ethnic groups, usually called "stocks," the most prominent of which are Yankee, Pennamite, Virginian, and Carolian. Those identities to an English speaker are at least as important as the distinctions between Canadiens, Adadiens, and Métis to a French speaker.
ps - Vermont is the most obvious clue that the ASB is not a strict alternate history project. It is highly convergent in a world that began to diverge from ours in the early 17th century.
In the world of the ASB, Vermont represents an area where the colony of New Hampshire illegally gave grants to settle in Dutch territory to some of its citizens and to some bands of Abenaki.[*1] In a classic divergence of interests, the British government refused to support the settlers, who spent decades fighting off Dutch officials on their own in a slow-paced conflict that was a constant threat to Anglo-Dutch relations.
In the 1760s, the conflict came to a head. Britain confirmed its recognition of Dutch authority in the land west of the Connecticut River, in effect disowning the Vermonters. The settlers formed a militia, the Green Mountain Boys, and then a republican government. This was probably a bluff meant to force Britain to re-assess the situation, but it drew the attention of French Canada. The French welcomed any disunity among their English rivals and were at the same moment stirring up trouble between Virginians and Pennsylvanians in the Ohio country.[*2] The Canadian governor extended recognition and friendship to the new republic, and after that there was really no going back.
Vermont is often compared with Upper Connecticut and Watauga, all small English-speaking states that began as independent settlement projects without support from the mother country. Its tradition of stubborn self-reliance is considered the "north pole" of the quintessence of New English culture; the "south pole" is represented by Martha's Vineyard with its his history of tolerance, sensible compromise, and a nautical tradition.
Today Vermont, like the rest of New England, is mostly English-speaking; but the southwest around Bennington has become largely Dutch, while the northern borderland has many French speakers from Canada. Memfremagog is about 50%-50% French and English. The Abenaki language has not fared particularly well here, since they intermarried with the ENglish and their children largely abandoned the Indian language; but some important pockets remain. St. Johnsbury in particular is known for its Abenaki culture; most road signs and shops in town are bilingual.
[*1] In the world of the ASB, it would be madness for settlers to begin a project without bringing along some friendly Indians. Without them they couldn't hope to defend a wide area by themselves, and the Indians' family connections in nearby villages would help them smooth over conflicts with their neighbors.
[*2] Another feature of the ASB is the intense rivalry among the English-speaking colonies. Today, descendants of those colonists identify as different ethnic groups, usually called "stocks," the most prominent of which are Yankee, Pennamite, Virginian, and Carolian. Those identities to an English speaker are at least as important as the distinctions between Canadiens, Adadiens, and Métis to a French speaker.
ps - Vermont is the most obvious clue that the ASB is not a strict alternate history project. It is highly convergent in a world that began to diverge from ours in the early 17th century.
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