New Hampshire Marks 250 Years Since Adoption of First State Constitution

New Hampshire marked the 250th anniversary of becoming the first colony to establish an independent government with its 1776 state constitution. 

In an event held on Monday, Jan. 5, Secretary of State David Scanlan commemorated the anniversary by hosting a special reading of the document at the New Hampshire State Archives in Concord. Michael LePage, a longtime historical interpreter and living historian since 1993, presented a keynote address and read the state's constitution to attendees.

"On Jan. 5, 1776, New Hampshire did more than respond to a political crisis. It helped light the path forward for American independence," said state archivist Ashley Miller in a statement shared with News 9.

The creation and adoption of the constitution was set against the backdrop of the broader fight for the American colonies' independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.

According to a Concord Monitor report, the Jan. 5 event is part of a broader series of observances leading up to the United States' 250th birthday celebration in July.