The State of Franklin

The State of Franklin was created in 1784 due to frontiersmen such as John Sevier and William Cage growing increasingly dissatisfied with North Carolina government. The newly formed United States Congress wanted to use North Carolina lands, to pay off their debts that had built up during the Revolutionary War. Options included selling the land to the Cherokee, or to a foreign power such as France or Spain. The vision for Franklin was to be a separate, secure, and independent state. They wanted to create the state, to prevent Congress from selling the land. On August 23, 1884, the State of Franklin was officially created, with John Sevier elected governor. In December of 1884 the leaders of Franklin set to work creating a constitution. As part of their constitution, they stated that doctors, lawyers, and preachers could not be involved in the legislature. Jonesborough became the capital city. The proposed constitution was defeated in referendum, and Franklin decided to operate under the North Carolina Constitution. On May 16, 1785, delegates got together and submitted a petition for admission as the 14th state of the Union. Seven out of the thirteen states voted to admit Franklin to the Union. Under the Articles of Confederation, the vote was less then the two-thirds majority, and the request for statehood was denied. According to primary source documents, the delegates submitted the name of the state as Frankland. The spelling would later be changed in order to honor Benjamin Franklin. The hope was that they could persuade Franklin to take their side and help them attain statehood. Franklin declined, saying that he was in Europe and was unaware of what was going on. Following the failed attempt at statehood, Franklin declared themselves a de facto independent republic. They moved their capital from Jonesborough to Greeneville, to be further away from North Carolina. In December 1785, the legislature met, drafted, and signed into law the Holston Constitution, which was modeled after that of North Carolina's. Governor John Sevier proposed that a flag be created, but one was never designed. The State of Franklin later opened up courts, and established five new counties. A barter system was adopted as their economic plan. The fact that they did not use a physical currency, led to confusion, and slow development. The legislature also made peace treaties with the Cherokee and Chickamauga Indians. By 1786, the United States government was beginning to come out of their financial difficulties. More and more settlers that were living in, and also those that would have been interested in moving to Franklin chose instead to settle in North Carolina. This resulted in back taxes, as well as the lack of a militia for Franklin. The leaders of North Carolina offered to waive all the back taxes if the leaders of Franklin would rejoin them. When they refused, the North Carolina militia was sent, commanded by Colonel John Tipton. The militia reestablished courts, jails, and government in Jonesborough. There were now two governments competing side by side. The leaders of Franklin continued to move west, forcibly taking Indian lands along the way. By the end of 1787, loyalties were divided. Some of the leaders wanted to rejoin North Carolina, and others wanted to remain independent. The North Carolina government later seized property belonging to Franklin leaders. This did not sit well with John Sevier and others, who raised a militia of approximately 100 men. Sevier and his men would engage the North Carolina militia in a ten minute battle at the home of Colonel John Tipton, resulting in three casualties. Sevier and his men later withdrew to Jonesborough, where they were thrown in jail, but later swore their allegiance to the United States. The North Carolina militia had to go back to Franklin and prevent Indian raids, that had resulted in the failed government forcibly taking their land. The State of Franklin was no more.

This picture gives a good idea of which portion of present day Tennessee made up the State of Franklin.

Replica of the Capitol building of the State of Franklin in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Colonel John Tipton's home and farm are now a state historic site.

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