The Republic of Vermont was formed from portions of the former U.S. states of Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, in the years after the Doomsday event of September 26, 1983. Vermont's origins date to the 18th century, as a former possession of Great Britain, then as an independent republic from 1777-1791 before joining the United States of America as its 14th state. It again became an independent nation in 1984, and over the years absorbed former New Hampshire as well as counties in former Massachusetts and Connecticut. It also claims the entire territory of former Connecticut and Rhode Island, and most of former Massachusetts, not belonging to the Outer Lands and other survivor states in the region.