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'''Maine''' was the twenty-third state to enter into the union. Its capital is Augusta. It is one of the [[liberal]] bastions in the Northeast, along with much of [[New England]], and is generally has a high concentration of gay activist legislators. This is somewhat out of balance with the general trend of U.S. voters, a majority of whom consistently vote [[Republican]] and identify as [[conservative]].

'''Maine''' was the twenty-third state to enter into the union. Its capital is Augusta. It is one of the [[liberal]] bastions in the Northeast, along with much of [[New England]], and is generally has a high concentration of gay activist legislators. This is somewhat out of balance with the general trend of U.S. voters, a majority of whom consistently vote [[Republican]] and identify as [[conservative]].

The state Constitution of Maine, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says:

The state Constitution of Maine, like all of the other 50 states, acknowledges God or our Creator or the ''Sovereign Ruler of the Universe''.  It says:

:''We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring God's aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same.''

:''We the people of Maine, in order to establish justice, insure tranquility, provide for our mutual defense, promote our common welfare, and secure to ourselves and our posterity the blessings of liberty, acknowledging with grateful hearts the goodness of the Sovereign Ruler of the Universe in affording us an opportunity, so favorable to the design; and, imploring God's aid and direction in its accomplishment, do agree to form ourselves into a free and independent State, by the style and title of the State of Maine and do ordain and establish the following Constitution for the government of the same.''

==The earliest Mainers==

 

 

 

===The earliest Mainers===

[[File:Portland Maine.jpg|frame|right|Portland, Maine.]]

[[File:Portland Maine.jpg|frame|right|Portland, Maine.]]

Descendants of Ice Age hunters, the earliest Mainers were nicknamed Red Paint People, because they lined the graves of their dead with red clay. These graves are thought to date back five thousand years. There are also large heaps of oyster shells on the coast that are thought to date back to the Red Paint People.

Descendants of Ice Age hunters, the earliest Mainers were nicknamed Red Paint People, because they lined the graves of their dead with red clay. These graves are thought to date back five thousand years. There are also large heaps of oyster shells on the coast that are thought to date back to the Red Paint People.

The two earliest Native American tribes of Maine were the Micmacs in eastern Maine and the Abanakis, who are also sometimes called Wabanakis. The former were warlike, but the latter were mainly peaceful farmers and fishers. The only remaining Native Americans today, of the many tribes who once inhabited Maine, are 1500 Passamaquoddies, who live on two reservations, and 1200 Penobscots, who live on Indian Island in the Penobscot River.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/history.html</ref>

The two earliest Native American tribes of Maine were the Micmacs in eastern Maine and the Abanakis, who are also sometimes called Wabanakis. The former were warlike, but the latter were mainly peaceful farmers and fishers. The only remaining Native Americans today, of the many tribes who once inhabited Maine, are 1500 Passamaquoddies, who live on two reservations, and 1200 Penobscots, who live on Indian Island in the Penobscot River.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/history.html</ref>

==Vikings in Maine==  

===Vikings in Maine===

Five hundred years earlier than [[Columbus]], the Viking raider Leif Ericson with a crew of 30 sailors are thought to have explored the Maine coast and possibly tried to establish a settlement here. The only piece of real evidence for this is the finding of an 11th-century Norse coin in Brooklin, Maine along with other artifacts when a former Native American trading center was excavated. This is not conclusive though, as the coin may have been used in trade from Newfoundland or may have been brought very much later by the English or Portuguese.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/leif-ericson</ref>

Five hundred years earlier than [[Columbus]], the Viking raider Leif Ericson with a crew of 30 sailors are thought to have explored the Maine coast and possibly tried to establish a settlement here. The only piece of real evidence for this is the finding of an 11th-century Norse coin in Brooklin, Maine along with other artifacts when a former Native American trading center was excavated. This is not conclusive though, as the coin may have been used in trade from Newfoundland or may have been brought very much later by the English or Portuguese.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/leif-ericson</ref>

==Colonization==

===Colonization===

In 1498 John Cabot, who was employed by King Henry VII of England, may have explored the Maine coast, although there is no concrete evidence of his visit. A hundred years later, some European ships came ashore to repair the ships and gather fresh supplies.

In 1498 John Cabot, who was employed by King Henry VII of England, may have explored the Maine coast, although there is no concrete evidence of his visit. A hundred years later, some European ships came ashore to repair the ships and gather fresh supplies.

By 1700 there were only six surviving settlements. Massachusetts had acquired most of the land claims in Maine by that time, and this arrangement continued until Maine acquired its own statehood in 1820.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/timeline.html</ref>

By 1700 there were only six surviving settlements. Massachusetts had acquired most of the land claims in Maine by that time, and this arrangement continued until Maine acquired its own statehood in 1820.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/timeline.html</ref>

==Disputes over ownership==

===Disputes over ownership===

England and France disputed the ownership of Maine during the early eighteenth century. The French actively supported Indian raids on white settlements, thinking this would drive English settlers out.

England and France disputed the ownership of Maine during the early eighteenth century. The French actively supported Indian raids on white settlements, thinking this would drive English settlers out.

Massachusetts offered free 100-acre lots to prospective settlers once the Indian threat subsided and the French had withdrawn, and the population of Maine doubled to 24,000 by 1763, and to over 150,000 by 1800.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/history.html</ref>

Massachusetts offered free 100-acre lots to prospective settlers once the Indian threat subsided and the French had withdrawn, and the population of Maine doubled to 24,000 by 1763, and to over 150,000 by 1800.<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/history.html</ref>

==Maine during the Revolutionary War==

===Maine during the Revolutionary War===

Mainers resisted the oppressive British taxes ten years before the Revolutionary War, seizing tax stamps at what was then called Falmouth but is now [[Portland]]. Customs agents were frequently attacked. A version of the [[Boston Tea Party]] happened in York, Maine in 1774 when a tea shipment was burned in York.

Mainers resisted the oppressive British taxes ten years before the Revolutionary War, seizing tax stamps at what was then called Falmouth but is now [[Portland]]. Customs agents were frequently attacked. A version of the [[Boston Tea Party]] happened in York, Maine in 1774 when a tea shipment was burned in York.

In 1775 the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War occurred off the coast of Machias and [[Benedict Arnold]] marched a band of revolutionaries through Maine in a valiant but doomed attempt at capturing [[Québec City]] and [[Montreal]].<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/timeline.html</ref>  

In 1775 the first naval battle of the Revolutionary War occurred off the coast of Machias and [[Benedict Arnold]] marched a band of revolutionaries through Maine in a valiant but doomed attempt at capturing [[Québec City]] and [[Montreal]].<ref>http://www.mainehistory.info/timeline.html</ref>  

==Becoming a State==

===Becoming a State===

After the [[Revolutionary War]], settlers on what was then a frontier area resented being ruled from 'away' in Boston  and campaigned for separation from Massachusetts.

After the [[Revolutionary War]], settlers on what was then a frontier area resented being ruled from 'away' in Boston  and campaigned for separation from Massachusetts.

At first Portland was the state capital, but in 1832 the capital was moved to [[Augusta]] because of its more central location.<ref>http://www.maine.gov/portal/facts_history/</ref>

At first Portland was the state capital, but in 1832 the capital was moved to [[Augusta]] because of its more central location.<ref>http://www.maine.gov/portal/facts_history/</ref>

==Maine and the Abolitionist movement==

===Maine and the Abolitionist movement===

Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state, but some Mainers were involved in activities related to [[slavery]], such as the [[Triangle Trade]].

Maine was admitted to the Union as a free state, but some Mainers were involved in activities related to [[slavery]], such as the [[Triangle Trade]].

Hannibal Hamlin was a Democratic Senator. However, he left the party in 1854 over the slavery issue and was a leading force in the formation of the Republican Party in Maine. He served as the state's first Republican governor and became the nation's first Republican vice president after the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]].

Hannibal Hamlin was a Democratic Senator. However, he left the party in 1854 over the slavery issue and was a leading force in the formation of the Republican Party in Maine. He served as the state's first Republican governor and became the nation's first Republican vice president after the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]].

==Maine and Prohibition==

===Maine and Prohibition===

The world's first Total Abstinence Society was founded in Portland in 1815 and other temperance societies over the next two decades. Eventually, a state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol except for "medicinal and mechanical purposes" was passed. By 1851 a law banning the manufacture and sale of liquor was passed in 1851 and not repealed until 1934, along with the repeal of Prohibition in the rest of the United States.

The world's first Total Abstinence Society was founded in Portland in 1815 and other temperance societies over the next two decades. Eventually, a state law prohibiting the sale of alcohol except for "medicinal and mechanical purposes" was passed. By 1851 a law banning the manufacture and sale of liquor was passed in 1851 and not repealed until 1934, along with the repeal of Prohibition in the rest of the United States.

==Maine and the Civil War==

===Maine and the Civil War===

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Brunswick, where her husband was a professor at Bowdoin College. The popular book aroused anti-slavery feelings throughout the northern states in the 1850s.

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Tom's Cabin" at Brunswick, where her husband was a professor at Bowdoin College. The popular book aroused anti-slavery feelings throughout the northern states in the 1850s.

Howard was one of the main founders of Howard University and was its first president. Chamberlain later became president of Bowdoin College.  

Howard was one of the main founders of Howard University and was its first president. Chamberlain later became president of Bowdoin College.  

   

   

==Maine Politics==

==Politics==

Maine politics was dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democrat [[Edmund S. Muskie]] became governor in 1954. He and others broadened the Democratic base.

Maine politics was dominated by the Republican Party from 1854 until the Democrat [[Edmund S. Muskie]] became governor in 1954. He and others broadened the Democratic base.

Since 2004, Maine has offered [[domestic partnership]]s, which are similar to [[same sex marriage]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>

Since 2004, Maine has offered [[domestic partnership]]s, which are similar to [[same sex marriage]]<ref>[http://www.answers.com/topic/domestic-partnership-in-the-united-states Answers.com]</ref>

== Elected Officials ==

=== Elected Officials ===

===Federal===

====Federal====

* Sen. [[Susan Collins]] (R)

* Sen. [[Susan Collins]] (R)

* Sen. [[Angus King]] (I)

* Sen. [[Angus King]] (I)

* Rep. [[Jared Golden]] [D, ME-02]

* Rep. [[Jared Golden]] [D, ME-02]

===Statewide===  

====Statewide====

* Governor [[Janet Mills]] (D)

* Governor [[Janet Mills]] (D)

* Attorney General [[Aaron Frey]] (D)

* Attorney General [[Aaron Frey]] (D)