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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Massachusetts State House, Boston
Massachusetts State House, Boston

Massachusetts has been at the forefront of American history for well over 250 years. The Pilgrims came ashore in 1620, and Massachusetts became the site of the first Thanksgiving in the fall of 1621. In the 1700's, as the economy of the area benefited from abundant fishing, trading, and shipbuilding, the residents became increasingly rebellious against Britain's persistent taxation. In 1773, history was made when Bostonians had their famous Tea Party, boarding a British tea ship, and tossing the tea into Boston Harbor in protest of unfair taxation. As skirmishes with the British became earnest battles of the Revolution, the spirit of the patriots swept the countryside, and when the British were forced out of Boston in 1776, the Americans knew the tides were turning in their favor.

Massachusetts gained statehood in 1788, and has sent four of her own and one adopted son to become President of the United States: John F. Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams and George Herbert Walker Bush . Though born in Vermont, Calvin Coolidge served as Governor of Massachusetts from 1919-1921 and went on to be elected President of the United States in 1924.

One of our visitors pointed out to us that all of the four Massachusetts presidents were born in the same county - Norfolk County, the County of Presidents.

THE STATE NAME:

This state was named after the Massachusetts Indians that lived in the Massachusetts Bay Region. Massachusetts means "large hill place."

THE STATE NICKNAMES:

Cape Cod Bay
Cape Cod & Cape Cod Bay

The Bay State

Massachusetts is most commonly known as "The Bay State" or "The Old Bay State" in reference to the Cape Cod Bay where early settlements were made and to the Massachusetts Bay Company given a royal charter in 1629 to promote settlement of the new land "from sea to shining sea." The charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company was the foundation of a government for the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

The Baked Bean State

The Puritans served brown bread and baked beans on Sundays because they could be prepared on Saturday. From this practice came the nickname, "The Baked Bean State." Boston has become famous for its baked beans.

The Old Colony State

This nickname applied to the early settlements of the Plymouth Colony in the years 1620-1628, before the Massachusetts Bay Colony was established.

The Pilgrim State

This nickname references the settlement of the Pilgrims in Massachusetts and the establishment of the Plymouth Colony. The Pilgrims set up a government in Massachusetts with the "Mayflower Compact." In 1621, the first Thanksgiving was held.

The Puritan State

In another reference to early colonization, Massachusetts has been called "The Puritan State" because of the Puritan emigrants who arrived in Massachusetts looking for a place to practice their religion where they would not be subject to persecution.

THE STATE CITIZENS:

People who live in Massachusetts or who come from Massachusetts are called Bay Staters after one of the state's nicknames. This designation was made Official by the legislature December 18, 1990.

THE PRESIDENTS:

Four men, born in the Commonwealth of Massachussetss, attained the office of President of the United States.

  • John Adams: John Adams was born in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts on October 30, 1735. One of the nation's founding fathers, John Adams was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and was intimately involved in the formation of our Constitution and Bill of Rights. He served as the 2nd President of the United States between George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. His birthplace and later residence are part of the Adams National Historic Park. [ More ]
  • John Quincy Adams: John Quincy Adams was also born in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts. He was born on July 11, 1767 and was the first son of a president to also serve as President of the United States. He served as the 6th President of the United States between James Monroe and Andrew Jackson. His birthplace is also a part of the Adams National Historic Park. [ More ]
  • John Fitzgerald Kennedy: John Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. He served as the 35th President of the United States between Dwight Eisenhower and Lyndon Johnson. His term was cut short by assasination on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, Texas. Lyndon Baines Johnson became the 36th President of the United States when he was sworn in to complete Kennedy's term in office.
  • George Herbert Walker Bush: George Herbert Walker Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts on June 12, 1924. He served as the 41st President of the United States and became a member of a small club (2 members, both from Mass.) when his son, George Walker Bush, was elected to be the 43rd President of the United States in 1999. George Herbert Walker Bush was often referred to as "Poppy" or "Bush41."

THE STATE QUARTER:

Massachusetts State Quarter
United States Mint Image

The Massachusetts State Quarter is the first commemorative quarter of the new millennium and displays the only design to date determined by the children of the state. The "Minuteman" statue stands in tribute to the regular farmers and colonists that were prepared to drop everything at a moment's notice to take arms against the British.

For more about the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.

This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters.

 


Sources...

Miller Center of Public Affairs: University of Virginia, American President: An Online Resource, 24 November 2009
The General Laws of Massachusetts, Part I, Title I, Chapter 2, Section 35. 22 October 2002
Carpenter, Allan & Provorse, Carl. The World Almanac® of the U.S.A.. Mahwah, N.J.: World Almanac Books (An Imprint of K-III Reference Corporation, A K-III Communications Company), 1996.
Shankle, George Earlie. State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers, and Other Symbols. Irvine, Calif.: Reprint Services Corp, Revised edition, 1971.
Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols: A Historical Guide Third Edition, Revised and Expanded. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 3 Sub edition, 2001.


Additional Information

Massachusetts (From Sea to Shining Sea)
Massachusetts
Joan Leotta

Massachusetts (From Sea to Shining Sea), by Joan Leotta. 80 pages. Publisher: Children's Press(CT) (December 2001) Reading level: Grades 3-5. Presents information about Massachusetts's people, geography, history, landmarks, natural resources, government, state capitol, towns and cities, and more.

Massachusetts (World Almanac Library of the States)
Massachusetts
Rachel Barenblat

Massachusetts (World Almanac Library of the States), by Rachel Barenblat. 48 pages. Gareth Stevens Publishing (December 2001) Reading level: Grades 4-6. Filled with the most up-to-date information, including the latest Census results. Full-color photos bring to life the story of Massachusetts. In addition to an in-depth factual profile of Massachusetts in the form of a state Almanac, this book offers fascinating and lively discussions of the state's history, people, geography, government, economy, culture, and lifestyles. A section on Notable People, a calendar of events, and enough primary source documents, time lines, maps, and other tools to make this unquestionably the best young adult reference material on the USA available anywhere.

Massachusetts: A Concise History
Massachusetts
Richard D. Brown
Jack Tager

Massachusetts: A Concise History , by Richard D. Brown and Jack Tager. 361 pages. Publisher: University of Massachusetts Press; Rev Exp edition (October 2000) In this book, Richard D. Brown and Jack Tager survey the rich heritage of this distinctive, and distinctly American, place, showing how it has long exerted an influence disproportionate to its size. A seedbed of revolt against British colonial rule, Massachusetts has supplied the nation with a long line of political leaders-from Samuel and John Adams to William Lloyd Garrison and Lucy Stone to John, Robert, and Edward Kennedy. Its early textile mills helped shape the industrial revolution, while its experiences with urbanization, immigration, ethnic conflict, and labor strife reflected the growth of the national economy. In the twentieth century, the state continued to lead the country through a series of wrenching economic changes as it moved from the production of goods to the provision of services, eventually becoming a center of the high-tech revolution in telecommunications.

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