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Why Massachusetts is a commonwealth
By adamg on Mon, 05/08/2023 - 9:52am
The State Library of Massachusetts (hmm, shouldn't that be the Commonwealth Library of Massachusetts?) answers the question, notes that for a short period (1776-1780), we were officially the State of Massachusetts Bay.
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Comments
"Commonwealth" means "republic"
On the seal of the Commonwealth, note the word "Reipublicæ" in ""Sigillum Reipublicæ Massachusettensis".
The style "commonwealth" is almost certainly a reference to the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the republic established by Oliver Cromwell after he cut off the head of King Charles the First. Cromwell and his confederates were Puritans, as were the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
As for the unfortunate King Charles, he has a river named for him not too far from here, as well as two other kings named Charles, one of whom was recently in the news.
Interesting, thanks.
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voted on vs. appointed a.g.'s/d.a.'s/judges ?
i always thought that states where the commoners voted for their welfare in the judiciary were commonwealths; whereas, states whose governers appointed officials were merely states ?
Well ...
Massachusetts judges are appointed, so ...
Puerto Rico Erasure
I looked, but did not see any qualifying langauge about this. Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth and not a state.