Vermont v. New Hampshire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vermont v. New Hampshire |
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| Argued April 20–21, 1933 Decided May 29, 1933 |
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| Full case name | The State of Vermont v. The State of New Hampshire |
| Citations | 289 U.S. 593 (more)
53 S. Ct. 708; 77 L. Ed. 1392
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| Prior history | Hearing upon exceptions to report of the Special Master |
| Holding | |
| The boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire is neither the thread of the channel of the Connecticut River nor the top of the west bank of the river, but rather the west bank of the river at the mean low-water mark. | |
| Court membership | |
| Case opinions | |
| Majority | Stone, joined by Van Devanter, McReynolds, Brandeis, Sutherland, Butler, Roberts, Cardozo |
| Hughes took no part in the consideration or decision of the case. | |
Vermont v. New Hampshire was an important case decided by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1933. The case was about figuring out the exact border between the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. Both states needed to agree on where their shared boundary was located along the Connecticut River.
The Supreme Court decided that the border was not in the middle of the river. It also was not at the very top of the river's west bank. Instead, the Court ruled that the border is on the west bank of the river at the mean low-water mark. This means the border is at the average lowest point the water reaches on that side of the river. This decision helped both states know their exact territory.
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How the Vermont-New Hampshire Border Was Decided
The border between Vermont and New Hampshire has a long history. It goes back to a special rule made by King George III of Great Britain. On July 20, 1764, the King signed an "Order-in-Council." This was like a royal decree or official command.
King George III's Decision
The King's order said that the border between New Hampshire and New York was the west bank of the Connecticut River. At that time, the land that is now Vermont was claimed by both New York and New Hampshire. The King's order was meant to solve this argument.
For about 15 years, the land that would become Vermont was mostly run as if it were part of New Hampshire. However, King George III's order gave this land to New York. This decision did not make the people living there happy.
Vermont's Independence and Statehood
On January 15, 1777, Vermont declared itself an independent country. It was called the Vermont Republic. Later, Vermont wanted to join the United States. The U.S. Congress set some rules for Vermont to become a state.
One of these rules was that Vermont had to give up its claims to any land east of the Connecticut River. This meant Vermont could not claim land on the New Hampshire side of the river. On February 22, 1782, Vermont's government, the Vermont Legislature, agreed to this condition. The Supreme Court used this historical agreement in its 1933 decision.
Checking the Border: A Special Tradition
To make sure everyone still agrees on the border, Vermont and New Hampshire created a unique tradition. In 1935, after the Supreme Court's ruling, both states passed laws. These laws require their top legal officers, called the attorneys general, to meet regularly.
The "Perambulation" Meeting
Every seven years, the attorneys general from Vermont and New Hampshire meet at the Connecticut River. They do this to officially confirm where the border is located. This meeting is sometimes called a "perambulation," which means walking or surveying a boundary. It helps ensure that both states continue to understand and respect their shared border.
