Vermont State Motto: Freedom and Unity
Fact-checked • Updated December 5, 2025
OFFICIAL STATE SEAL
"Freedom and Unity"
Freedom and Unity
About This Motto
The Vermont state motto is Freedom and Unity. Ira Allen designed the Great Seal with this motto in 1778, and the Vermont General Assembly officially accepted it on February 20, 1779. This happened during the Vermont Republic period, before Vermont became a state. The motto captures a delicate balance that defines Vermont's character and the challenge of building any democratic society.
What the Motto Means
Freedom and Unity addresses a fundamental tension. People want personal liberty to make their own choices. Communities need citizens to work together for the common good. The motto asks how both can exist. Vermont founder Ira Allen understood this challenge in 1778 when he designed the seal.
The first word honors individual rights and independence. Vermonters fought against New York's land claims and British rule. The second word recognizes that no person survives alone. Building roads, defending borders, and creating laws required cooperation. True strength came from unity among independent-minded people. These ideas work together.
Historical Background
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1777 - Vermont Republic Declared
On January 15, 1777, settlers declared independence from New York and New Hampshire claims. They first called their nation the Republic of New Connecticut. By July 8, 1777, the name changed to Vermont, from French words meaning green mountains. Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys led this fight. Vermont needed its own government.
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1778-1779 - Seal Design and Adoption
In 1778, Ira Allen designed the Great Seal for the Vermont Republic. He was Ethan Allen's younger brother and served in the Vermont Legislature. Reuben Dean of Windsor carved the seal. The design showed a pine tree with fourteen branches, sheaves of wheat, a cow, mountains, and the motto Freedom and Unity. The Vermont General Assembly accepted this seal by resolution on February 20, 1779. The seal wore out by 1821 and Vermont used a more pictorial version until 1937.
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1791 - Statehood and Readoption
Vermont operated as an independent republic for fourteen years with its own currency and postal system. When Vermont joined the United States on March 4, 1791, it became the 14th state. The legislature readopted the motto for the new state seal. Vermont Governor Thomas Chittenden described Vermont as the home of freedom and unity in his epitaph. The 1937 legislature returned to using Ira Allen's original seal design.
Where You See It Today
You'll find Freedom and Unity on the Great Seal of Vermont. The motto appears on a scroll beneath the shield. The seal shows a pine tree in the center, surrounded by sheaves of wheat and a cow. Mountains rise in the background. Two crossed pine branches sit between the shield and the scroll. This design appears on official state documents and the state flag.
The state flag displays the Vermont coat of arms on a blue background. The coat of arms features the same elements as the seal. You can see the motto above the central doors of the Vermont Supreme Court and above the rostrum in Representatives Hall at the State House. The commemorative quarter issued for Vermont in 2001 shows maple trees, but not the motto.
Interesting Facts About the Motto
Fact 1 of 8
Vermont was an independent republic from 1777 to 1791 before joining the United States.
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.
Official Vermont statutes describing state symbols and motto. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Educational resource on Vermont's Great Seal and motto history. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
Comprehensive article on Vermont's motto and its historical significance. • Accessed: December 31, 2025
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