麻萨诸塞(Massachusetts)

正式名称麻萨诸塞州（Commonwealth of Massachusetts）

美国东北部的州。为新英格兰诸州之一，面积21,456平方公里；首府波士顿。东濒大西洋，该州的土地贫瘠多岩，虽然蔓越橘种植很重要，但整个农业在经济中的作用有限。1602年英国第一个殖民者戈斯诺尔德（B. Gosnold）到达时，该地区居住着阿尔冈昆印第安人。清教徒在普里茅斯定居，他们是在1620年乘坐「五月花号」来的。麻萨诸塞海湾公司鼓励清教徒定居者们建立并管理麻萨诸塞湾殖民地。1643年它加入新英格兰联盟，1652年取得了缅因。1675年该州东南部和中部经历了菲利普王战争。1684年失去了它的第一次建制权，1686年成为新英格兰版图的一部分。1691年第二次建制给予这块殖民地对缅因和普里茅斯的管辖权。18世纪时麻萨诸塞成为对抗英国殖民政策的中心；是波士顿茶党案以及勒星顿和康科特战役的发生地，该战役标志了美国革命的开始。1788年它成为批准美国宪法的第六个州。它是19世纪工业革命的前哨，以纺织业着称。如今它的主要工业是电子工业、高科技以及通信业。它有许多着名的高等学府。旅游业也很重要，尤其在科德角地区和伯克夏山。人口约6,118,000（1997）。

English version：

Massachusetts

State (pop., 1997 est.: 6,118,000), northeastern U.S. One of the New England states, it covers 8,284 sq mi (21,456 sq km); its capital is Boston. Bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, the state's soils are poor and rocky, and agriculture plays a limited role in the economy, although cranberry farming is important. The region was inhabited by Algonquian Indian tribes when the first English settler, Bartholomew Gosnold, arrived in 1602. Plymouth was settled by the Pilgrims, who came on the Mayflower in 1620. The Massachusetts Bay Colony was founded and governed by the Massachusetts Bay Co. spurring Puritan settlement. It joined the New England Confederation in 1643 and acquired Maine in 1652. The southeastern and central state's settlements experienced King Philip's War in 1675. After losing its first charter in 1684, it became part of the Dominion of New England in 1686. Its second charter in 1691 granted the colony jurisdiction over Maine and Plymouth. In the 18th century Massachusetts became a center of resistance to British colonial policy; it was the scene of the Boston Tea Party, and of uprisings at the Battles of Lexington and Concord that marked the beginning of the American Revolution. In 1788, it became the sixth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. It was in the forefront of the 19th century Industrial Revolution and was known for its textile mills. Today its major industries are electronics, high technology, and communications. It is well-known as the location of many institutions of higher learning. Tourism is important especially in the Cape Cod region and the Berkshires.