Franklin: The Lost State of America

What led to the creation of the State of Franklin and why isn’t it around today? Over a period of four years the fledgling state sought recognition even pleading with an ex-president for his seal of approval. Yet its history was to be all too brief. So what happened?

Even more to the point, why hasn’t anyone ever made a movie out of this strange but remarkable story?

Image Credit Note the county by the name of Sevier? Remember that name, it's important later.

Everything invariably boils down to one thing in politics, and that is money. After the revolution it was in short supply and the federal coffers were empty. Revolutions after all, cost money just as much as any war. North Carolina, quite remarkably, decided to cede its western portion to make up its contribution. Getting cold feet, the offer was withdrawn before Congress had even had a chance to accept it. The fear was that Congress might sell the land to a foreign power. Better to be poor than live next to the French, after all.

However, the locals weren’t terribly happy at all (to say the least) at this almost casual secession of their lands and had, in the intervening time, decided that Federal rule would suit them quite nicely. Plus, North Carolina had always been tardy in offering support against attacks by local indigenous tribes or for that matter against the wanted men who used the remote area as a hideaway – unfortunately bringing their law breaking habits with them.

In August 1784 delegates from three of the eight western counties of North Carolina met in the town of Jonesborough. There was a vote (by no means unanimous, a gentleman by the name of Tipton was vocal in his opposition) and on the 23^rd of the month they declared the lands independent. The state of Franklin was born. Opposition was immediate - North Carolina published a manifesto condemning the formation of the new state (see above left). In fact it brought about the first political pamphlet war for that part of America.