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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".

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 known for being a bastion of liberalism and is known, along with [[California]] and [[New York]], for being one of the most extreme in its [[blue state]]s [[leftist]] politics, especially for [[gun control]] (see  [[Essay:State Firearms Laws Ranking]] and the [[Unfree state]]s).

 

==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.   

[[File:Col-mass.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Harvard College was founded in 1638 making Boston the intellectual center of New England]]  

[[File:Col-mass.jpg|thumb|300px|left|Harvard College was founded in 1638 making Boston the intellectual center of New England]]  

{{USstates}}

{{USstates}}

[[Category:States of the United States]]

[[Category : States of the United States]]

[[Category:Massachusetts]]

[[Category : Massachusetts]]

[[Category:New England]]

[[Category : New England]]

[[Category:Blue States]]

[[Category : Blue States]]

[[Category : Liberalism]]