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The '''Commonwealth of Massachusetts''' is a state<ref>It is one of four states officially known as "commonwealths"; there are no practical differences between a "commonwealth" and a "state".  

The '''Commonwealth of Massachusetts''' is a state<ref>It is one of four states officially known as "commonwealths"; there are no practical differences between a "commonwealth" and a "state".  

</ref> in the [[New England]] region of the northeastern [[United States]].  Its capital city is [[Boston]]. The name is derived from the Indian tribe that lived there, the "Massachusett".  It is one of four states officially known as "commonwealths"; there are no practical differences between a "commonwealth" and a "state". It is well noted for being a bastion of American leftism and is often called "Taxachusetts." However, western Massachusetts, with the execption of Northampton and Amherst, tend to be strongly conservative.

</ref> in the [[New England]] region of the northeastern [[United States]].  Its capital city is [[Boston]]. The name is derived from the Indian tribe that lived there, the "Massachusett".  It is one of four states officially known as "commonwealths"; there are no practical differences between a "commonwealth" and a "state". It is well noted for being a bastion of American leftism and is often called "Taxachusetts."

==History==

==History==

Republican State Senator [[Scott Brown]] pulled a major upset, defeating Democrat Attorney General [[Martha Coakley]] in the election. Brown rode on a wave of voter anger at President Obama and his [[health care]] overhaul and won by a 52%-47% margin.<ref> See [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/01/19/us/politics/massachusetts-election-map.html?hp statistical analysis of 2010 vote]</ref>

Republican State Senator [[Scott Brown]] pulled a major upset, defeating Democrat Attorney General [[Martha Coakley]] in the election. Brown rode on a wave of voter anger at President Obama and his [[health care]] overhaul and won by a 52%-47% margin.<ref> See [http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/01/19/us/politics/massachusetts-election-map.html?hp statistical analysis of 2010 vote]</ref>

Although once a bastion of social conservatism (the term "Banned in Boston" is still in widespread use)<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref> Massachusetts is known as one of the most Catholic and most liberal states. It is the most populous state to have all-Democratic congressional representation (before Brown won in 2010).  It was called "Taxachusetts" because of its high tax rate, which has since been lowered by a series of Republican governors in the 1990s and 2000s ([[William Weld]], [[Paul Cellucci]], [[Jane Swift]] and [[Mitt Romney]]); they were among the most liberal Republican governors in the country.<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref>. Long before these governors, local and state efforts succeeded in reducing taxes, such as Proposition 2 1/2 in 1980, which regulated the rate at which local property taxes could be assessed.

Although once a bastion of social conservatism (the term "Banned in Boston" is still in widespread use)<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref> Massachusetts is known as one of the most Catholic and most liberal states. It is the most populous state to have all-Democratic congressional representation (before Brown won in 2010).  It was called "Taxachusetts" because of its high tax rate, which has since been lowered by a series of Republican governors in the 1990s and 2000s ([[William Weld]], [[Paul Cellucci]], [[Jane Swift]] and [[Mitt Romney]]); they were among the most liberal Republican governors in the country.<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Massachusetts/id/1896007</ref>

Its current [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]] are [[John Kerry]] (who unsuccessfully ran for [[President]] in 2004) and [[Scott Brown]].   

Its current [[United States Senate|U.S. Senators]] are [[John Kerry]] (who unsuccessfully ran for [[President]] in 2004) and [[Scott Brown]].   

Massachusetts is the home of Presidents [[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], and [[John F. Kennedy]].

Massachusetts is the home of Presidents [[John Adams]], [[John Quincy Adams]], and [[John F. Kennedy]].

Massachusetts has been a [[blue state]] in presidential elections since 1928 except when it favored [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[Ronald Wilson Reagan]] both terms. However, the western portion of the state leans very "red," or conservative.

Massachusetts has been a [[blue state]] in presidential elections since 1928 except when it favored [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] and [[Ronald Wilson Reagan]] both terms.

In 2012, an Elementary school in Bellingham, MA attempted to take out the word, "God" from the song, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood for a school concert. The attempt failed, as parents in the community complained. [http://video.foxnews.com/v/1549117644001/]

In 2012, an Elementary school in Bellingham, MA attempted to take out the word, "God" from the song, "God Bless the USA" by Lee Greenwood for a school concert. The attempt failed, as parents in the community complained. [http://video.foxnews.com/v/1549117644001/]