New Hampshire celebrates 250 years of leading independence

Michael LePage knows he’s no spitting image of Matthew Thornton. He’s short; Thornton was tall. LePage has blue eyes; Thornton’s were nearly black.

But in preparing to portray the founding father who oversaw the drafting of New Hampshire’s first state constitution, LePage studied Thornton: his Irish heritage, his role as a surgeon for the militia and the importance of the document he helped create.

New Hampshire became the first U.S. state to enact its own constitution — and the first colony to form independent self-government — on Jan. 5, 1776, in Exeter. It was the first to declare independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War.

LePage, a seasoned historical reenactor from the Boston area, performed a dramatic reading of the state constitution at a celebration at the New Hampshire State Archives in Concord on Monday.

“It’s important because it’s our history,” he said in an interview, “but it’s as so many authors and historians say: You can’t know where you are and where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been.”

That constitution, just under 1,000 words long, established the state legislature and democratic elections for a number of positions. It was replaced in 1784 with a second version that remains in effect today.

LePage, 59, who said he’s loved history since the 1970s bicentennial celebrations he witnessed as a kid, said it’s important to look back on people like Thornton and the decisions they made.

“When people get frustrated with government or they don’t like the way things are, they need to understand that there’s a reason for this, that we created a democratic republic that doesn’t make everybody happy, but it’s based on a majority,” LePage said. “It may not be the most efficient type of government at times, but I would argue it’s the fairest that there is, and it’s important, because everything that we enjoy today was because of them.”

At a rally downtown hosted by the Kent Street Coalition and Democratic Congresswoman Maggie Goodlander on Monday, advocates hoped to drive home that New Hampshire’s constitution set up a government ruled by the people, not a king — an homage to the “No Kings” protests that swept the country throughout the first year of Donald Trump’s second term.

“When I think about 250 years ago on this day, and what we did here in this state, it was ordinary people who loved freedom, who loved one another, who believed in this basic, sacred and fragile idea that a government of, by and for the people is possible,” Goodlander told the crowd of nearly 100 people. “And believe me, we’re going to show the world again and again and again that it will remain so.”

The gathering ended with volunteers reading excerpts from New Hampshire’s constitution and singing “Happy Birthday” to it.

The Americans for Prosperity chapter of New Hampshire, along with Republican members of the House of Representatives, also planned to host a celebration on Tuesday evening in Sandown, discussing the constitution’s importance and how it shapes their work today.

The Secretary of State’s office will provide a presentation to the House of Representatives on Thursday; after that, the 1776 state constitution will be on public display at the State House Visitor Center from Thursday afternoon until Jan. 23.

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