FOLLOW THE FRENCHMEN | EPISODE 19 - VERMONT

The Green Mountain State is home to a rich nature cherished and celebrated widely across the state. More than merely being the catalyst for scenic views, the nature of Vermont is also central to the fabric of the state and the lives of many Vermonters today. It was no different in 1825.
In this episode, find out what Lafayette's two-day visit to Vermont on June 28-29, 1825, meant in 1825 and what it can possibly mean now.
As both a Frenchman and a Major General of the Continental Army, Lafayette was in a unique position to be a nexus between France and the U.S.. The Frenchman's visit to Vermont rekindled the French background of the state. At the same time, it spurred a celebratory fervor that transformed Vermont's iconic natural features, the Green Mountains, into revered patriotic monuments.
Lafayette's visit is strongly indicative of how Vermonters saw themselves then. It also contains clues about how they still see themselves today. In order to sustain a narrative of patriotism, Vermont Governor Cornelius Van Ness made an analogy between the nature of the bravery displayed by Vermonters during the American Revolution and the geography of Vermont, a state dominated by mountains.
250 years after the Declaration of Independence, find out what has become of Vermont's visceral attachment to nature.
In addition to being a Revolutionary War icon, Lafayette was also an outspoken abolitionist. On its own, Vermont was quick in abolishing slavery. The Frenchman's views on slavery and the state's early constitutional rejection of slavery intersected to produce a powerful message in June of 1825.
From the quaint Cornish Bridge to the iconic Lake Champlain, Follow the Frenchmen to Vermont will integrate some of the state's natural features with elements of cultural history contained in Lafayette's short time in the Green Mountain State.
This project was supported in part by Vermont Humanities (www.vermonthum...)
© Cornish Bridge, Connecticut River, watercolor on paper by Edward Seager (1809-86), 1848.
© The Battle of Bennington, a National Guard Heritage Painting by Don Troiani, courtesy of the National Guard Bureau.