The State of Franklin was an unrecognized autonomous United States territory created in 1784 from part of the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains that had been offered, by North Carolina, as a cession to the federal government. Later, the area legally became, once again, part of North Carolina. Franklin was never admitted into the United States - falling two votes short for admission.
What led to the creation of the State of Franklin? Over a period of four years the fledgling state sought recognition even pleading with an ex-president for his seal of approval. Yet its history was to be all too brief. So what happened? Even more to the point, why hasn't anyone ever made a movie out of this strange but remarkable story?The Presurfer