Changes

[[File:Porcfest 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Porcfest 2015, one of two annual gatherings of FSP members]]'''Free state''' has two common meanings. One is the older less common meaning in the [[Antebellum]] period where a '''free state''' was a state where [[slavery]] was outlawed.  

[[File:Porcfest 2015.jpg|thumb|right|Porcfest 2015, one of two annual gatherings of FSP members]]'''Free state''' has two common meanings. One is the older less common meaning in the [[Antebellum]] period where a '''free state''' was a state where [[slavery]] was outlawed.  

The second is a newer and more common meaning in use since the late 1970's in [[America]] among [[libertarian]]s, [[conservative]]s, conservative [[Christian]]s, [[Patriot]]s, and socal activists.  In 2001, libertarians founded The [[Free State Project]] (FSP) <ref>https://freestateproject.org/</ref> to recruit at least 20,000 libertarians to move to a single low-population state.  In 2003, they selected [[New Hampshire]] as the target state.  Once 20,000 libertarians sign a pledge to move to New Hampshire, then a political migration will result in libertarians having greater political power to elect office holders than would be the case if libertarians remain spread across all 50 states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Libertarians Pursue New Political Goal: State of Their Own |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/27/us/libertarians-pursue-new-political-goal-state-of-their-own.html?pagewanted=all |first=Pam |last=Belluck |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=October 27, 2003 |accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>  On February 3, 2016, the Free State Project announced via social media that 20,000 people had signed the Statement of Intent. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FreeStateNH/status/694763068010713088?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|title=Twitter: We Did It|accessdate=March 30, 2016}}</ref> In a press conference later that day, the movement's leader said the relocation had been triggered and that signers were expected to follow up on their pledge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freestateproject.org/blogs/free-state-project-officially-announces-20000-signers-100-reached|title= official press conference announcing success in reaching 20,000 members|accessdate=March 30, 2016}}</ref> The organizers are now shifting their efforts from recruiting the 20,000 participants to encouraging those who have signed up to actually move to New Hampshire.  The success of the project will not be known until 2021 and will depend upon people honoring their pledge to move and the conditions created in the new New Hampshire communities.  In the meantime, the Free State Project holds an annual "Porcfest" among its members.

The second is a newer and more common meaning in use since the late 1970s in [[America]] among [[libertarian]]s, [[conservative]]s, conservative [[Christian]]s, [[Patriot]]s, and social activists.  In 2001, libertarians founded The [[Free State Project]] (FSP) <ref>https://freestateproject.org/</ref> to recruit at least 20,000 libertarians to move to a single low-population state.  In 2003, they selected [[New Hampshire]] as the target state.  Once 20,000 libertarians sign a pledge to move to New Hampshire, then a political migration will result in libertarians having greater political power to elect office holders than would be the case if libertarians remain spread across all 50 states.<ref>{{cite news |title=Libertarians Pursue New Political Goal: State of Their Own |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/27/us/libertarians-pursue-new-political-goal-state-of-their-own.html?pagewanted=all |first=Pam |last=Belluck |publisher=''[[The New York Times]]'' |date=October 27, 2003 |accessdate=January 10, 2015}}</ref>  On February 3, 2016, the Free State Project announced via social media that 20,000 people had signed the Statement of Intent. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/FreeStateNH/status/694763068010713088?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet|title=Twitter: We Did It|accessdate=March 30, 2016}}</ref> In a press conference later that day, the movement's leader said the relocation had been triggered and that signers were expected to follow up on their pledge.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://freestateproject.org/blogs/free-state-project-officially-announces-20000-signers-100-reached|title= official press conference announcing success in reaching 20,000 members|accessdate=March 30, 2016}}</ref> The organizers are now shifting their efforts from recruiting the 20,000 participants to encouraging those who have signed up to actually move to New Hampshire.  The success of the project will not be known until 2021 and will depend upon people honoring their pledge to move and the conditions created in the new New Hampshire communities.  In the meantime, the Free State Project holds an annual "Porcfest" among its members.

When the Free State Project reached 5,000 pledges, it conducted a mail ballot to determine its target state, with New Hampshire gaining the most votes, but Wyoming coming in second place.  About 20% of the members did not want to migrate to New Hampshire and withdrew from the project.  A number of the departing FSP members formed a new movement to promote libertarian migration to Wyoming called [[Free State Wyoming]], which has more emphasis on gun rights than does the FSP.  Since then some commentators have tried to spin the term "free state" away from its meaning as a libertarian state to a state with liberal gun laws.

When the Free State Project reached 5,000 pledges, it conducted a mail ballot to determine its target state, with New Hampshire gaining the most votes, but Wyoming coming in second place.  About 20% of the members did not want to migrate to New Hampshire and withdrew from the project.  A number of the departing FSP members formed a new movement to promote libertarian migration to Wyoming called [[Free State Wyoming]], which has more emphasis on gun rights than does the FSP.  Since then some commentators have tried to spin the term "free state" away from its meaning as a libertarian state to a state with liberal gun laws.

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