New Hampshire State Motto: Live Free or Die
Fact-checked • Updated December 3, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Live Free or Die"
About This Motto
New Hampshire's state motto, Live Free or Die, was adopted in 1945. Legislature approved motto and state emblem simultaneously. General John Stark wrote phrase in letter dated July 31, 1809. Stark declined invitation to Battle of Bennington reunion due to poor health. Sent toast instead of attending. New Hampshire became ninth state June 21, 1788.
What the Motto Means
Live Free or Die expresses stark choice between liberty and death. Phrase declares freedom worth dying for. No middle ground exists. Assertive independence runs through wording. Contrast with milder state mottos makes New Hampshire's memorable. Possibly best-known motto among 50 states.
John Stark's full toast read: Live free or die. Death is not the greatest of evils. Second sentence provides context for first. Worse things exist than dying. Living without freedom counts among them. Stark fought Revolutionary War to establish independence. Message captured soldier's view of liberty's value.
Phrase wasn't original to Stark. French Revolution used Vivre Libre ou Mourir decades earlier. Patrick Henry delivered famous Give me liberty or give me death speech in 1775. Similar sentiments appear throughout history across cultures. Greek motto Eleutheria i thanatos means Freedom or death. Bulgarian revolutionaries used Svoboda ili smart. Uruguay adopted Libertad o Muerte. Theme resonates across independence movements.
New Hampshire considered other options in 1945. Finalists included Strong and Steadfast as Our Granite Hills. Another was Strong as Our Hills and Firm as Our Granite. Third option: Pioneers Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow. Legislature chose Stark's words. Brevity and boldness won out over geographic references.
Historical Background
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New Hampshire Statehood
New Hampshire ratified U.S. Constitution on June 21, 1788. Became ninth state to ratify. Ninth ratification put Constitution into effect. New Hampshire cast deciding vote for new government. First adopted independent state constitution in January 1776. Months before Declaration of Independence. Colony showed fierce independence from founding in 1623.
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Stark's Letter July 31, 1809
Battle of Bennington veterans planned reunion for August 16, 1809. Committee invited Stark as honored guest. Health prevented travel from his farm. Stark sent letter instead with toast for veterans. Wrote about soldiers he commanded at Bennington. Called them men who had not learned art of submission. Said undisciplined freemen superior to veteran slaves. Added toast as afterword for committee to read aloud.
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Motto Adoption 1945
Legislature considered state motto question in 1945. No motto existed on original state seal. Appeared on no official documents. Four finalists emerged from deliberations. Live Free or Die competed against three granite-themed options. Legislature approved Stark's words. Governor signed bill into law May 10, 1945. State emblem adopted simultaneously with motto.
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License Plates 1970
Legislature mandated Live Free or Die on all non-commercial plates in 1970. Replaced previous motto Scenic. Some citizens objected to forced speech. Covered or altered phrase on their plates. George Maynard covered or die in November 1974. Jehovah's Witness said displaying motto violated religious beliefs. State charged him with misdemeanor. Case went to federal courts.
Meaning & Significance Today
Live Free or Die appears on state emblem adopted 1945. Emblem features Old Man of the Mountain profile. Motto curves below mountain formation. Frigate Raleigh sails in foreground. Nine stars represent New Hampshire as ninth state. Emblem appears on state documents and official seals. Replaced earlier seal design that lacked motto.
License plates display motto prominently since 1971. White letters on green background. Phrase appears above registration numbers. State requires motto on all non-commercial plates. Commercial vehicles exempt from requirement. Vanity plates also carry motto. New Hampshire plates instantly recognizable nationwide due to memorable phrase.
Wooley v. Maynard reached U.S. Supreme Court in 1977. Justices ruled 7-2 in Maynard's favor. Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote majority opinion. Court held state cannot prosecute motorists who hide motto. First Amendment protects right to refrain from speaking. Decision likened case to West Virginia v. Barnette about Pledge of Allegiance. State's interests paled compared to free expression rights.
Motto captures New Hampshire independent spirit. State has no general income tax. No general sales tax either. Low taxation policy attracts businesses. First-in-nation presidential primary since 1952. Small population but outsized political influence. Motto chosen 1945 fits state character perfectly. Fierce independence dates to colonial days.
Cultural Context in New Hampshire
Revolutionary War Legacy
New Hampshire contributed soldiers, ships, supplies to Revolutionary cause. First colony to establish independent government in 1776. Seized Fort William and Mary from British in 1774. Early act of rebellion against crown. Revolutionary spirit shaped state identity. Stark's motto reflected this heritage when adopted in 1945.
John Stark Memorial
Monument to Stark stands in Manchester, New Hampshire. Bennington Battle Monument in Vermont honors his victory. Statue appears in U.S. Capitol representing New Hampshire. John Stark Regional High School named for general. Mascot: the Generals. Stark's legacy remains strong in state consciousness.
Free State Project
Libertarian organization Free State Project cites motto as one of 101 reasons choosing New Hampshire. Goal: move 20,000 libertarians to state. Project began early 2000s. Motto's emphasis on liberty attracted political migrants. Movement continues influencing state politics and culture.
Popular Culture References
USS New Hampshire submarine uses motto. Virginia-class nuclear attack submarine commissioned 2008. Digital Equipment Corporation printed Unix license plates with motto in 1980s. Company headquartered in New Hampshire. Numerous books, songs, TV episodes reference phrase. Breaking Bad and The Sopranos both titled episodes Live Free or Die.
Current Law
New Hampshire Revised Statutes govern state emblem and motto. Title 1, Chapter 3 contains relevant provisions. Law adopted May 10, 1945 established both emblem and motto together. Statute describes emblem design including motto placement. No separate legislation exists for motto alone.
License plate law requires Live Free or Die on non-commercial plates. Commercial vehicles exempt from requirement. Wooley v. Maynard Supreme Court decision prevents prosecution of citizens who cover motto. State cannot compel speech violating First Amendment. Law remains on books but enforcement limited by constitutional protections.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 16
John Stark wrote the motto on July 31, 1809, for a Battle of Bennington reunion he couldn't attend.
Sources & References
This article has been researched using authoritative sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All information has been fact-checked and verified against official government records.
Comprehensive history of motto origins, John Stark's letter, French Revolution connections, and Wooley v. Maynard Supreme Court case. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Legal text establishing state emblem and motto under Title 1, Chapter 3. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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