Mainely About Massachusetts

Sometimes states lose the Maine portion of their land, and it usually happens in Mass. Ok, I am Mainely done with this joke. 

Early in the history of America, toward the beginning of the colonies, Maine and Massachusetts Bay were two separate colonies. Only a few decades after its formation, the District of Maine was claimed and added to Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Shortly after the United States declared independence, Massachusetts Bay Colony, became a state, and later renamed itself the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Finally, I am done with this state’s wordy names!

So, we now have the state of Massachusetts that contains the District of Maine, but by now you probably can guess that this is not the way it will remain for long. Mainers became frustrated with Massachusetts for neglecting the interests of Maine. Massachusetts grew further apart from Maine politically and economically, yep, that pushed Maine to campaign for statehood.

For decades, Maine attempted to form their own state, and for decades their requests were ignored by Massachusetts, until Massachusetts finally conceded and permitted Maine’s separation as long as Congress approved.

Yet, Congress didn’t simply approve their statehood, no, because they had the delicate balance of free and slave states to consider, and neither side wanted the other to have more states than themselves. With Missouri Territory’s recent campaigning for admission as a slave state, Congress finally admitted Maine as a free state to keep the balance.

And that is how Massachusetts lost about 77% of its land and became the small New England State that we know today.

What’s your opinion, was Massachusetts better with Maine, or is it better the way it is today?

Onward American  🇺🇸

Source: Loss of Maine