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Interesting Facts and History About Massachusetts

Deepa Kartha
Although European explorers set foot on Massachusetts in the 11th century, Native American tribes had been living in the state for several centuries. The original Native American tribes living in the state included Massachusett, Nauset, Mohican, Wampanoag and Nipmuc.
History of Massachusetts
While English explorers like John Cabot did explore the land beforehand, the Pilgrims (1620) were the first English group to have made a permanent settlement in the state. The Pilgrims were Puritans who arrived in the New World in order to find religious freedom. The Pilgrims established the Plymouth Colony or the Old Colony.
The Pilgrims were followed by the Separatists, who were originally from Holland. They established the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
As more and more colonies emerged in the state, there were tensions and fights between the colonists and the natives, which the colonists won. The Province of Massachusetts was formed by combining the Plymouth Colony and the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
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However, not all was smooth for the British Empire. People began to protest against the repressive rule of the British. Two crucial incidents that happened in Massachusetts were the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party.
Massachusetts is known as the birthplace of American Revolution. Years of struggle finally led to independence, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts became the 6th state to join the United States of America in 1788.
Facts about Massachusetts
Massachusetts is flanked by the Atlantic Ocean in the East, New Hampshire and Vermont in the North, New York in the West, and Connecticut and Rhode Island on the South.
The state capital Boston is New England's largest city.
The name Massachusetts comes from the Native American tribe, Massachuset, which means ‘great mountain place’ or ‘at or about the Great Hill’.
The motto of Massachusetts is Ense Petit Placidam Sub Libertate Quietem, which means : By the Sword We Seek Peace, But Peace Only Under Liberty.
Massachusetts is the birthplace of two major sports. Basketball was invented by James Naismith in Springfield in 1891, while volleyball was invented by William G. Morgan at Holyoke in 1895.
Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of telephone, made his first call in Boston on March 10’ 1876.
The state is home to a lake, which has the fifth longest name in the world. Although it is called the Webster Lake, its official name is Chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg.
Massachusetts is the birthplace of chocolate chip cookies as well. These world-famous cookies were first baked at Tollhouse Restaurant in Whitman in 1930.
The state is also home to the first chocolate factory in America.
The world famous Dunkin Donuts store first began in Quincy in Massachusetts in 1950.
The first thanksgiving in the US was celebrated in Massachusetts’ Plymouth in 1621.
Rockport, Massachusetts has a house that is completely made of newspaper. Built by Elis F. Stenman in 1922, even the objects inside the houses (even a piano) are made of newspaper.
The first lighthouse in the USA was built in Massachusetts's Boston Harbor in 1716. Apart from being the oldest lighthouse in the country, it is the only lighthouse in the country that still has an official keeper.
Ladybug is the state insect of Massachusetts, while Boston Terrier is the official state dog.
The official state berry of Massachusetts is cranberry.
The state has the lowest divorce rate in the United States of America.