Massachusetts has played a pivotal role in shaping America's past and future, from Salem Witch Trials to the American Revolution and beyond. Massachusetts also contributed significantly towards industry, education and social progress throughout its history.
Pilgrims laid an enduring foundation of religious freedom while revolutionary heroes and influential thinkers helped to shape America. By unraveling this rich tapestry of American history, Boston and all of Massachusetts will gain a greater appreciation of what has been accomplished over time.
The Mayflower Voyage
Beginning with the arrival of the Mayflower in 1620, the permanent European settlement of America began. This book published by Plymouth 400 chronicles key events from colony history with a 100-moment photographic timeline and newspaper-style stories as if they are happening right now.
An abundance of primary sources, from letters and sermons, provide insights into the lives of the Mayflower's passengers. Contrary to popular belief, their voyage wasn't the first interaction between Native peoples and Europeans: Miles Standish led an army raid against Wessagusset village under Massasoit's order in 1623 - nine US presidents can trace their roots back to Pilgrims!
Author Nick Bunker digs deep into the prehistory of the pilgrims to uncover a different perspective of their history. He suggests that they were more inclined towards profit-seeking businesses that saw opportunities in America than separatism was their main goal. Religious intolerance was prevalent during Plymouth's early years and tolerance only emerged later on, around 1680 or 1686. Manufacturing factories also flourished at this time transforming Lawrence and Lowell into manufacturing hubs. Agriculture suffered as farmers left their fields to work in factories, a trend that would continue throughout the 1800s. This chronology also provides artwork and maps that help illustrate Massachusetts' key historical periods.
The Boston Tea Party
On December 16, 1773, Samuel Adams and John Hancock led a group of colonists - known as the Boston Tea Party - in staging an act of defiance that forever altered US history. Dressed as Indians, they boarded three ships in Boston Harbor dressed as Indians before throwing 342 chests of tea worth millions into the water as an act of civil disobedience and into protest of taxes levied upon them by King George. It marked an early and important event leading up to American independence from England.
No one knows for certain whether the destruction of tea was deliberate; many historians suspect it may have been spontaneous response to an outraged crowd--but its impact was immense. The Tea Party helped galvanize colonial support for independence and set in motion events leading up to Lexington and Concord battles which launched America's Revolution.
The Massachusetts Chronicles tells this and many other key stories in its history through a series of newspaper-style stories illustrated as though they had just happened. Additionally, this book includes a 100-moment photographic timeline and QR codes--point any smartphone camera at them to watch videos exploring moments from Massachusetts history! Created in partnership between Plymouth 400 and Bridgewater State University as well as several prestigious partners including Bridgewater State University; approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education endorsed this publication accompanied by an Educator's Guide specifically written to meet educator needs within upper Elementary and Middle School grades grades.
The American Revolution
Revolutionary-era Massachusetts was transformed by an explosion of civic and cultural institutions during this era, from scientific societies and charitable foundations to state banks, state bank charters and even an early commercial railroad in Boston Bridge Company's charter being granted by Congress - along with many incorporated educational and cultural institutions like several academies being founded to take advantage of a lackluster economy.
Massachusetts was determined to remain independent from imperial influence, yet her citizens resisted British attempts at increasing taxation for revenue and monopolistic trade policies that they saw as threats to autonomy and liberty in Massachusetts. Weapons of resistance included boycotts, riots and propaganda; an East India Company tea boycott in 1773 led directly to the Boston Tea Party which Parliament then responded with their Coercive or "Intolerable Acts."
Bay State business and manufacturing interests were staunch advocates of the national Constitution during its formative years of independence, dominating state ratifying conventions to shape a Constitution with strong Commonwealth roots. Their influence could be seen reflected in its national framework that heavily reflected Commonwealth goals and aspirations. Unfortunately, this period also saw religious conflicts flare back up; during one particularly turbulent year known as 1786 there was even an armed uprising known as Shays' Rebellion taking place across western towns of Massachusetts before eventually being crushed by militia consisting of many of Lexington Concord veterans.
Literary Giants
Native people lived in what is now Massachusetts for millennia. Over that time they developed a vibrant culture reflecting family, clan, community and supernatural beliefs while adapting to their forested habitat with new technologies like chipped or ground stone tools, pottery, basketry leather and maneuverable canoes.
As colonists began settling in Massachusetts, they were strongly impacted by the strict religious ideals prevalent in England. This had an enormous effect on Massachusetts' early settlements - particularly Plymouth and Boston - as well as contributing to war with England in 1770; key events like the Boston Tea Party and Lexington/Concord Battles played out this war and eventually led to its start and the establishment of a new nation.
Massachusetts boasts a long tradition of literary luminaries such as Louisa May Alcott, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Nathaniel Hawthorne - with Louisa May Alcott's classic The Wayside House being designated a National Historic Landmark as it was home for both family members. Additionally, Emerson wrote his essay Nature in the House which contributed significantly to creating the American Transcendentalist movement which uses nature as a source of spiritual truth.
In the 19th century, Massachusetts factories played an instrumental role in America's Industrial Revolution; similarly, Boston played an essential part in supporting social progress and ending slavery during the American Civil War. Today, high tech and finance are two leading industries within Massachusetts.
Political Ideologies
War of 1812 and its aftermath changed the Massachusetts pattern drastically; once dominant mercantile-financial class of Massachusetts found itself threatened.
A new generation of leaders was soon emerging whose ambition, avarice and desire for power and success were balanced by moral earnestness and hardheaded practicality. These "new men" brought fresh ideas and energy to state politics and economic life.
These changes were further complicated by an ecclesiastical upheaval known as the Great Awakening, an event which fractured the Congregational church into two camps: those favoring emotional and egalitarian aspects of religion -- known as New Lights -- and traditionalists known as Old Lights who stressed deference and order.
War with England and its subsequent imposition of an Embargo presented Massachusetts maritime interests with valuable economic opportunities. Shipping and fisheries industries flourished, improving agricultural production as well as manufacturing. By the late nineteenth century, Massachusetts began moving towards more diversity; yet its traditions of independence, moral earnestness and academic curiosity would remain.
The Birth of Boston
By the 1780s, Massachusetts merchant and shipping interests had established a significant network of incorporated institutions to serve their interests. Their expectation that a strong national government would regulate commerce more effectively while also creating favorable treaties and championing fishing and shipbuilding industries was mostly fulfilled.
Massachusetts was an early leader of colonial growth during this era, becoming the first of its kind to establish a bicameral legislature and legal code; establish its own state bank; create public school systems; chartered several bridge companies (one that opened across Charles River between Boston and Charlestown) as well as chartering bridge companies that chartered numerous bridges that connected communities across its expanse. Yet economic benefits were unevenly distributed throughout its borders.
Urban centers were home to flourishing institutions, while rural settlers suffered under burdensome mortgages and ineffective markets, heavy taxation rates, and their lack of representation in legislative bodies that served mercantile-financial interests. Their discontent led to what would later be known as Shays' Rebellion in Berkshire, Hampshire, and Worcester counties.
The Educators Guide contains QR codes that will take you to short video clips featuring young people from Massachusetts sharing stories about moments in its history. Use your smartphone to scan them to view them (full instructions can be found in the Educators Guide).
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