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Maine Separation from Massachusetts Measure (May 1792)
| Maine Separation from Massachusetts Measure | |
|---|---|
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| Election date |
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| Topic Statehood |
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| Status |
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| Type Legislatively referred state statute |
Origin |
District of Maine Separation from Massachusetts Measure was on the ballot as a legislatively referred state statute in District of Maine on May 7, 1792. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported "the idea of separating from Massachusetts." |
A "no" vote opposed "the idea of separating from Massachusetts." |
Election results
|
Maine Separation from Massachusetts Measure |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 2,074 | 45.11% | ||
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2,524 | 54.89% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
Text of measure
Full text
The following is the text of the resolve that authorized the ballot measure:[1]
| “ | Chapter 135.
RESOLVE ON MEMORIAL OF THE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES OF THE DISTRICT OF MAINE. Whereas it has been represented to the Legislature in a Memorial signed by the Hon: Nath: Wells Esq. & others Senators & Representatives of the District of Maine, that the inhabitants of the Counties of York, Cumberland, Lincoln, Hancock & Washington contemplate the formation of a separate government, to consist of the Counties aforesaid, with the consent of this Commonwealth.—In order that the real sense of said inhabitants may be known on this important subject, Resolved, that the selectmen, or any other officers, who are by law authorized to call meetings of the inhabitants of any town, district, or plantation within the Counties aforesaid be, & hereby are authorized & empowered to issue a regular notification to the inhabitants of their several towns, districts & plantations to convene on the first monday of May next for the purpose of giving in their votes in their respective towns, districts & plantations on the proposed separation. And the Clerks of the several towns, districts & plantations aforesd. are hereby directed to make out a true & accurate return of all the votes for & against a separation, & to make, or cause to be made a return thereof into the Secretary's Office on or before the second wednesday in June next. And it is further Resolved, that the Secretary be & he is hereby directed to send as soon as may be a printed copy of the foregoing resolve to the clerk of each town, district & plantation in the said Counties. March 6, 1792.[2] |
” |
Background
According to Stephanie Kermes, in Creating an American Identity: New England, 1789–1825, "The movement for separation [from Massachusetts] began shortly after the American Revolution in 1784... The social, religious, and political gap between Massachusetts and the district of Maine widened during the early years of the republic."[3] Kermes noted that there was often a divide between coastal and inland Maine, as coastal communities relied on trade with Massachusetts, while inland communities "felt deprived of their liberties by Massachusetts’ proprietors and the Congregationalists church establishment."[3]
Voters in Maine decided on the first separation question on May 7, 1820, with 54.9% voting against independence from Massachusetts. In 1797, the question was on the ballot again, but this time 53.6% voted for separation. However, the Massachusetts General Court did not act on the results, with legislators citing low voter turnout.[3] In 1807, voters rejected the third separation question, with 73.6% voting against creating a new state.
The War of 1812 contributed to increased support for separation.[4] Kermes wrote, "In the War of 1812, British occupation lasting for almost the duration of the war caused even bigger economic losses in Maine. Disappointed by Massachusetts’ failure to protect the district from the British, and frustrated with their economic situation, Mainers felt more and more enthusiastic about separating from the Bay State."[3]
In 1816, voters approved a measure with 62.0% support, requesting that the General Court approve the separation of Maine from Massachusetts. The General Court responded, authorizing a convention to discuss the issue and draft a constitution. However, the legislation was amended to require a second ballot measure on September 2, 1816, with approval needing a five-to-four vote, which is about 55.6%. The question received 53.6% of the vote, falling short of the requirement, and the General Court dissolved the convention.[3][5]
In 1819, the General Court approved legislation for another ballot question, scheduled for July 26. The legislation provided that, with voter approval, an election for constitutional convention delegates would be held on September 21, and the convention would convene in Portland on October 12. Voters would then need to approve the drafted constitution, and Congress would need to grant statehood to Maine. Voters decided on the sixth and final ballot measure regarding separation from Massachusetts, with 70.6% voting for statehood.[3][5]
Voters approved the proposed constitution on December 6, 1819.[6]
On December 8, U.S. Sen. Prentiss Mellen (Federalist) and U.S. Rep. John Holmes (Democratic-Republican) introduced the statehood petition into Congress. The petition became tied to the Missouri Compromise of 1820. Speaker of the House Henry Clay (Democratic-Republican) proposed that Missouri would be admitted as a slave state, and Maine would be admitted as a free state, preserving an even divide between free and slave states in the U.S. Senate. Maine became a state on March 15, 1820.[3][4]
| State | Year | Status | Yes | No | Yes (%) | No (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Separation from Massachusetts Measure | 1792 | Defeated | 2,074 | 2,524 | 45.11% | 54.89% |
| Request General Court for Consent to Separate from Massachusetts Measure | 1797 | Approved | 2,785 | 2,412 | 53.59% | 46.41% |
| Legislators to Request General Court to Approve Separation from Massachusetts Measure | 1807 | Defeated | 3,370 | 9,404 | 26.38% | 73.62% |
| Request General Court to Approve Separation from Massachusetts Measure | 1816 (May) | Approved | 10,584 | 6,491 | 61.99% | 38.01% |
| Separation from Massachusetts and Statehood Measure | 1816 (September) | Defeated | 11,969 | 10,347 | 53.63% | 46.37% |
| Separation from Massachusetts and Statehood Measure | 1819 | Approved | 17,091 | 7,132 | 70.56% | 29.44% |
Path to the ballot
The Massachusetts General Court passed legislation ordering the ballot measure for May 7, 1792.
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ Massachusetts General Court, "Acts and resolves passed by the General Court, 1791," accessed July 15, 2025
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 Kermes, S. (2008). Creating an American Identity: New England, 1789–1825. Palgrave Macmillan, Springer Nature.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Banks, R. F. (1970). Maine becomes a state: The movement to separate Maine from Massachusetts, 1785–1820. Maine Historical Society.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Whitmore, Albert Ames, "Separation of Maine from Massachusetts" (1917). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2744.
- ↑ Maine State Legislature, "Amendments to the Maine Constitution, 1820 - Present," accessed July 15, 2025
