New Hampshire: Polity Style: 1776-2023 5 Jan 1776 organised as self-governing colony by the resolution passed by the Congress of New Hampshire (House of Representatives) at the session held in Exeter 5 Jan 1776, also known as "form of Government" [Laws of New Hampshire, 4:xii-xiv; New Hampshire State Papers, 8:2-4] 5 Jan 1776 - 11 Sep 1776 Colony of New Hampshire [1] 2 Jul 1776 a resolution in favour of independence of the British colonies in North America is passed, session of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:506-507) 4 Jul 1776 the British colonies represented in the Continental Congress are proclaimed "free and independent states" in accordance with a declaration approved by the Congress on 4 Jul 1776, session of the Continental Congress, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Journals of the Continental Congress, 5:510-515) 11 Sep 1776 "An Act to adopt and take the Name, Stile, and Title of State, in Lieu of Colony, in New Hampshire" is passed by the House of Representatives and Council and takes effect [Laws of New Hampshire, 4:37; New Hampshire State Papers, 8:332] 11 Sep 1776 - State of New Hampshire 4 Mar 1778 Concurrent Resolution of the House of Representatives and the Council authorising the delegates of New Hampshire in the Continental Congress to ratify the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union on behalf of the State of New Hampshire (passed 4 Mar 1778 by the House of Representatives, concurred in by the Council 4 Mar 1778) [New Hampshire State Papers, 8:778; Journals of the Continental Congress, 11:662] 1 Mar 1781 formed part of the United States as a confederation, retaining sovereignty and independence, upon the taking effect of the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union (Journals of the Continental Congress, 19:213-223] 1 Mar 1781 - a state of the United States 4 Mar 1789 formed part of the United States as a federal republic when the central government was organised starting with the meeting of the U.S. Congress in New York (Annals of Congress, House of Representatives, 1st Congress, 1st Session, 100; Annals of Congress, Senate, 1st Congress, 1st Session, 16] [1] Occasional references to Colony of New Hampshire as opposed to the official style Province of New Hampshire used by the British authorities first appear in 1775 in the proceedings of Provincial Congresses, revolutionary assemblies held in 1774-1775 [New Hampshire State Papers, 7:399ff]. Last updated on: 25 Apr 2014 20:00:00