Massachusetts History - the history of Massachusetts
   
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Vacation 2 USA   >   Massachusetts   >   History
Vacation 2 USA   >   History   >   Massachusetts History

   
 

Massachusetts History


Before the arrival of Europeans, the area that is today the state of Massachusetts was inhabited by various Algonquian-speaking Native American peoples including the Massachusett, the Pennacook, the Wampanoag, the Nauset, the Nipmuc, the Pocomtuc, the Mahican, the Narragansett and Mohegan. Sadly however, all these peoples were soon decimated by smallpox when Europeans first arrived in North America.

In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived from England on the Mayflower, establishing a colony at Plymouth. Like the Native Americans, the Pilgrims suffered from smallpox. They were however helped by the Wampanoags, and celebrated their first Thanksgiving with the Native Americans in 1621. The English settlers were known to the Native Americans, as Yengeeze (their pronunciation of "English"). This is the origin of the word "Yankee".

In the following decades, the Pilgrims were followed by Puritans, who established a colony at Boston, as well as Anglicans and Quakers. However there were religious tensions, with Quakerism banned, and four Quakers hanged on Boston Colony. The English colonies of Connecticut and Rhode Island were founded at this time by dissenters fleeing the lack of religious tolerance in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

In the reign of King James II of England, who was an outspoken Catholic, the Massachusetts Bay Colony's charter was annulled. A short-lived Dominion of New England was formed, but the Royal Governor was overthrown by the colonials. After James' overthrow, the Plymouth Colony and Massachusetts Bay Colony (Boston) were merged, and a new royal charter was granted in 1692.

1692 was also signalled the Salem witch trials. The trials lasted until May 1693, and resulted in the deaths of 20 people (14 women and 6 men), and the imprisonment of more than 150.

Massachusetts was an important location in the run-up to, and during the the American Revolution (1775 to 1783). Samuel Adams, John Adams, and John Hancock all came from the state, and Boston was the site of the Boston Massacre (1770) and the Boston Tea Party (1773). Additionally, the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and the Battle of Bunker Hill both took place within the state.

In the early 19th century, Massachusetts became a leader in industrialization. Textiles mills were established in Boston, and the United States' first commercial railroad, the Granite Railway, was established in 1826.

Immediately, following the American Revolution, Massachusetts had been the first state to assert that slavery was no longer permitted. In the first half of the 19th century, abolitionist sentiment and activity continued to grow within the state. As a result, Massachusetts was one of the first states to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops, and also was the first state to recruit a black regiment, the 54th Massachustts Volunteer Infantry.

In the early years of the 20th century, Massachusetts had a strong industrial economy, with Boston serving as the the second most important port in the country. The economy however began to falter during the 1920s, and the state was hit hard by the Great Depression that began in 1929.

After World War II, and a difficult transition period, Massachusetts gradually transitioned to a largely service and technology based economy. The state is also an important educational center, containing many nationally and internationally reknown colleges and universities, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University.


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Massachusetts: A Concise History

By Richard D. Brown

University of Massachusetts Press
Released: October 16th, 2000
Paperback (400 pages)

Massachusetts: A Concise History
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  • Manufacturer: University of Massachusetts Press
  • Brand: University of Massachusetts Press
  • ISBN: 1558492496
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  • Edition: REV AND EXPANDED ed.
  • Number of Pages: 400
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  • Publication Date: October 16th, 2000
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  • Weight: 1.4991433816 pounds
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The Massachusetts Chronicles: The History of Massachusetts from Earliest Times to the Present Day (What on Earth State Chronicles)

By Mark Skipworth

What on Earth Books
Released: September 1st, 2020
Hardcover (54 pages)

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  • Manufacturer: What on Earth Books
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  • ISBN: 1999802802
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  • Edition: Illustrated
  • Number of Pages: 54
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Massachusetts Book of the Dead:: Graveyard Legends and Lore

By Roxie Zwicker

The History Press
Released: October 23rd, 2012
Paperback (128 pages)

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  • Manufacturer: The History Press
  • Brand: The History Press
  • ISBN: 1609497570
  • EAN: 9781609497576
  • PartNumber: 9781609497576
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  • Number of Pages: 128
  • Author: Roxie Zwicker
  • Publication Date: October 23rd, 2012
  • Release Date: October 23rd, 2012
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  • Size: 9.0 inches by 6.0 inches by 0.31 inches
  • Weight: 0.50044933474 pounds
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Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

By George Francis Dow

Dover Publications
Released: February 1st, 1988
Paperback (416 pages)

Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
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  • Manufacturer: Dover Publications
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  • ISBN: 0486255654
  • UPC: 800759255658
  • EAN: 9780486255651
  • PartNumber: Over 100 historic pictures
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  • Paperback
  • Format: Illustrated
  • Edition: Revised ed.
  • Number of Pages: 416
  • Author: George Francis Dow
  • Publication Date: February 1st, 1988
  • Release Date: February 1st, 1988
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  • Size: 8.48 inches by 5.41 inches by 0.82 inches
  • Weight: 0.89948602896 pounds
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Historic Streets of Salem, Massachusetts (American Chronicles)

By Jeanne Stella

The History Press
Released: October 5th, 2020
Paperback (224 pages)

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  • ISBN: 1467143332
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  • Number of Pages: 224
  • Author: Jeanne Stella
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Spooky Trails and Tall Tales Massachusetts: Hiking the State's Legends, Hauntings, and History

By Stephen Gencarella

Falcon Guides
Released: September 1st, 2021
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Spooky Massachusetts: Tales of Hauntings, Strange Happenings, and Other Local Lore, Second Edition

By S. E. Schlosser

Globe Pequot
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Boston and the State of Massachusetts: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know (Arcadia Kids)

By Kate Boehm Jerome

Arcadia Publishing
Released: May 24th, 2011
Paperback (32 pages)

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The Natural History of Eastern Massachusetts - Second Edition

By Stan Freeman

Parlux
Released: November 23rd, 2015
Paperback (124 pages)

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The Atlas of Boston History

University of Chicago Press
Released: October 10th, 2019
Hardcover (224 pages)

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