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 NAME:
This state was named after the Massachusetts Indians that lived in the Massachusetts Bay Region. Massachusetts
means "large hill place."
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
| THE NICKNAMES:
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.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint) |
THE 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.
Source: The General Laws of Massachusetts, Part I, Title I, Chapter 2, Section 35, (http://www.state.ma.us/legis/laws/mgl/2%2D35.htm), October 22, 2002 |
THE QUARTER:
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 on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
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