Independence movements

History of New England independence proposals

From the 1814 Hartford Convention to the founding of the New England Independence Campaign in 2014.

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1814: the Hartford Convention

Amid opposition to the War of 1812 and the Embargo Act, some Federalist delegates at the Hartford Convention discussed secession, though the convention's actual outcome favoured moderate constitutional reform.[1]

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Hartford Convention, 1814

New England Federalist delegates debated secession amid War of 1812 grievances, but chose a moderate constitutional-amendment path instead.

2014-2025: the New England Independence Campaign

Alex Gilbert founded the NEIC in 2014, a contemporary organisation unrelated to the 1814 episode.[2]

The NEIC registered as a Massachusetts non-profit in 2024 and gained 501(c)(4) status in 2025.[3]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: At the 1814 Hartford Convention, New England Federalist delegates, motivated by opposition to the War of 1812 and the earlier Embargo Act of 1807, debated grievances against the federal government; some delegates advocated secession, but the convention's actual outcome favoured a set of constitutional amendments proposed by moderates, and no secession occurred.

  2. 2.

    Claim: Alex Gilbert founded the New England Independence Campaign (NEIC) in 2014 in Oakland, Maine, as a contemporary advocacy organisation for New England independence, distinct from and unrelated to the 1814 Hartford Convention episode.

    • History (New England Independence Campaign) link, Founding section. Movement organisation perspective Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: The NEIC registered as a non-profit organisation in Massachusetts in 2024 and was granted 501(c)(4) tax-exempt status in 2025, following growth in membership after the 2016 and 2024 US general elections.

    • History (New England Independence Campaign) link, 2024-2025 organisational status section. Movement organisation perspective Source record

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Printed from https://independenceatlas.com/movements/new-england-independence/history · last substantive update 24 September 2026.