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|language=English

|language=English

|governor=Deval Patrick

|governor=Deval Patrick

|gparty=Democrat

|gparty=Democratic

|senator1=John Kerry

|senator1=John Kerry

|s1party=Democrat

|s1party=Democratic

|s1phone=(202) 224-2742

|s1phone=(202) 224-2742

|s1email=http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html Contact

|s1email=http://kerry.senate.gov/v3/contact/email.html Contact

|senator2=Scott Brown

|senator2=Elizabeth Warren

|s2party=Republican

|s2party=Democratic

|s2phone=(202) 224-4543

|s2phone=

|s2email=http://scottbrown.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/emailscottbrown Contact

|s2email=

|population=

|population=

|date=February 6, 1788 (6th)

|date=February 6, 1788 (6th)

}}

}}

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 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 liberalism and is known for being one of the "bluest" of the "blue states".

</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==

Massachusetts was first settled by the [[Pilgrims]] who emigrated from [[England]] on the ''[[Mayflower]]'' in 1620 and founded a settlement at [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth]], and soon afterward by the much larger group the [[Puritans]], who founded the "Massachusetts Bay Colony".  Both groups came to America seeking religious freedom.   

Massachusetts was first settled by the [[Pilgrims]] who emigrated from [[England]] on the ''[[Mayflower]]'' in 1620 and founded a settlement at [[Plymouth Colony|Plymouth]], and soon afterward by the much larger group the [[Puritans]], who founded the "Massachusetts Bay Colony".  Both groups came to America seeking religious freedom.   

==Politics==

==Politics==

Liberal icon [[Ted Kennedy]], the third longest-serving Senator in U.S. history, died from a brain tumor in August 2009, marking the end of an era. During the [[2004 Presidential Election]] the Democratic super-majority in the state legislature blocked the Republican Governor [[Mitt Romney]] from appointing an interim senator should [[John Kerry]] be elected President. The legislature changed the law back again after Kennedy's death, allowing Governor [[Deval Patrick]], a Democrat, to appoint a temporary replacement for Kennedy. He chose former Democratic National Committee chairman [[Paul Kirk]]. Kirk did not seek a full term of his own, and a special election was held on January 19, 2010.  

Massachusetts was home of the Kennedy family, with President [[John Kennedy]], Attorney general and later New York Senator [[Robert Kennedy]], and Massachusetts Senator [[Ted Kennedy]], who was the third longest-serving Senator in U.S. history. During the [[2004 Presidential Election]] the Democratic super-majority in the state legislature blocked the Republican Governor [[Mitt Romney]] from appointing an interim senator should [[John Kerry]] be elected President. The legislature changed the law back again after Ted Kennedy's death, allowing Governor [[Deval Patrick]], a Democrat, to appoint a temporary replacement for Kennedy. He chose former Democratic National Committee chairman [[Paul Kirk]]. Kirk did not seek a full term of his own, and a special election was held on January 19, 2010.  

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 Democratic 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>

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).  In the 1980's Republicans called it "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 [[Elizabeth Warren]], who defeated Scott Brown's re-election bid in 2010.   

The current governor, elected in 2006 over Republican and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Murphy Healey,<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/governor/patrick/</ref> is [[Deval Patrick|Deval L. Patrick]], who was the first Democrat to take the office in 16 years, and the first African American to win the post.<ref>http://www.mass.gov/</ref><ref>http://www.nndb.com/gov/911/000051758/</ref> A strong liberal in the state that legalized [[homosexual marriage]], Patrick signed a bill which allowed out-of-state gay couples to marry in Massachusetts. In a speech afterward, Patrick was recorded openly mocking conservatives and the Bible by stating, "In five years now, ... the sky has not fallen, the earth has not opened to swallow us all up."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/07/31/massachusetts-gov-patrick-signs-allowing-gay-marriage-non-residents</ref>

The current governor, elected in 2006 over Republican and former Lieutenant Governor Kerry Murphy Healey,<ref>http://www.boston.com/news/local/politics/candidates/governor/patrick/</ref> is [[Deval Patrick|Deval L. Patrick]], who was the first Democrat to take the office in 16 years, and the first African American to win the post.<ref>http://www.mass.gov/</ref><ref>http://www.nndb.com/gov/911/000051758/</ref> A strong liberal in the state that legalized [[homosexual marriage]], Patrick signed a bill which allowed out-of-state gay couples to marry in Massachusetts. In a speech afterward, Patrick was recorded openly mocking conservatives and the Bible by stating, "In five years now, ... the sky has not fallen, the earth has not opened to swallow us all up."<ref>http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/07/31/massachusetts-gov-patrick-signs-allowing-gay-marriage-non-residents</ref>

Patrick is faring poorly in polls, as he has been ineffective in getting his own priorities enacted, and in dealing with the [[recession of 2008]].

Patrick did not run for re-election in 2014, and the election was won by Republican [[Charlie Baker]], who will take office in early 2015.

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.

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 the 1972 Presidential election it was the only state (along with the District of Columbia) to support [[George McGovern]] over [[Richard Nixon]].

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/]

==See Also==

==See Also==

* [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]

* [[Cambridge, Massachusetts]]

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