[Archived] The Commonwealth of Massachusetts [1784 to 1786]

[Galveston Bay]

The 2nd oldest of the American colonies, founded by Protestants fleeing the Church of England.



Government: Democratic Republic operating under the Constitution of 1780, the first written constitution in America and the oldest (as of 2019)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_Massachusetts#Declaration_of_Rights
one immediate effect was that by 1783, by court decision, Slavery is outlawed in Massachusetts under Article I of the Constitution which states that all men are born free and equal

Governor: An election is underway in 1784, set for November.  Current governor is Artemis Ward
John Adams is appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs, in effect roving ambassador, and sent right back to Britain to work on improving relations with the British, Dutch, and to a lesser extent the French and various Germans.   As a special assistant, General Benjamin Lincoln (now retired and given the rank of Deputy Secretary) is sent to Prussia.  

State Military: General Timothy Pickering is named Commanding General of the Massachusetts State Forces, including militia, with Brigadier General William Prescott is commander of the State Militia.

Massachusetts has a Senate and House of Representatives, and a separate General Court (which is the Supreme Court essentially).   John Hancock was forced to resign as Governor after the events in the last year but is now a Senator.

There is already a crisis afoot in 1784, the early rumblings of a tax revolt led by Daniel Shays and widespread protests by the rural poor about debts, hard money, and demands for paper currency and some kind of debt relief are all underway.  This is in part an outgrowth of the failure of the Continental Congress to act effectively. 

Abigail Adams, and others, are pressing for increased women's rights, including voting rights. 

  Massachusetts
Capital: Boston
Population: 440,000 (99% free white, 1% free colored)
Port: Boston
Income: 2
Frontier and Claimed Territories: Western New York, Central Michigan, Central Wisconsin, Northern Maine
Frontier Population: 10,000 (100% free white) [Northern Maine], Negligible [Everywhere else]

prebuild:
6 points
2 point: 4 PatRon (1 each Boston, Nantucket, Grand Banks patrol, Portland)
1 point: 5 infantry companies (Augusta, Wiscasset (both in the District of Maine), Springfield armory, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard)
3 points: Tax relief and debt buy backs by the State government, with Veterans getting first priority.  The longer the service, the higher the priority.  Springfield Arsenal: primary manufacturing site of muskets and cannon for the Revolutionary Army and Massachusetts forces. so it is the fort for Massachusetts (and it sites on a very defensible bit of land too)
State Army has 2,200 men
State Navy has 1,000 men
Regular forces total: 3,200 (Potential is 13,200)
Militia: potential is 26,400,   Between them Massachusetts and the District of Maine have 30 Counties. 
organization as of 1784 is 127 companies of which 100 are infantry, 27 are cavalry.   Between them, Massachusetts and the District of Maine have 30 Counties, so 28 companies of cavalry (Natucket and Marthas Vineyard do without), 32 independent infantry companies so that each county has 1 of each (2 each for the islands), Boston fields its own regiment (to defend the city), 2 more regiments are assigned to Boston from neighboring communities, and the remaining Militia are independent infantry companies spread about the Commonwealth.
Total: 3 regiments (3,000), 28 county cavalry (5,600), 32 county infantry (6,400),  the remaining 11,400 are organized into 57 provisional infantry companies.   The County units and regiments are first in line for equipment.  The rest are considered more of a manpower reserve.  Some units date back to the 1640s.  County units are descended from the Minutemen companies.  Under law, only Quakers are exempt from military service.

(revised as Massachusetts had a really big state navy during the Revolution)

[Galveston Bay]

As 1784 begins, the government in Boston sends representatives to New York to resolve disputes over land in the western part of that state, as well as to Rhode Island and Connecticut to discuss a smaller union as it is clear the bigger one is not an option at this time.   Talks with the British are underway about the boundary for Maine, while talks are underway with the various Indian tribes that remain about their status. 

Under Massachusetts law, all inhabitants as of 1784 are free citizens of the Commonwealth.

As of 1783, Americans from Salem and Boston are already en route to Canton, China to get into the business of trade for Chinese silk, tea and other commodities and goods.   Whaling ships from New England are all over the Atlantic, while Boston ships are very important in the Triangle Trade.

[Galveston Bay]

A formal invitation is sent to former officers of the Continental Navy for service in the Massachusetts State Navy, particularly officers with successful combat records.  Offers of rank and position are made.    The naval architect, Joshua Humphreys out of Philadelphia is offered a commission to design a class of heavy 44 gun frigates for the navy as well.

[Galveston Bay]

1784 budget
port and commerce: 1.54 points
taxes: .44
total 2 points

military budget
maintain 1 fort, 5 infantry companies .6 points
maintain 4 PatRons .4 points
total 1 point

begin construction of the 3rd Rate ships of the Line (BB2) "Constitution"  and "Liberty" (8 points total, spread over 8 years at 1 point a year.   These 2 ships are envisioned as a way to ensure that any future blockade of Boston would require an entire fleet, and thus be difficult to impose and thus Yankee privateers, blockade runners and the Navy brigs would be able to reach enemy sea lanes and inflict heavy damage. 

While debate is fierce on these two ships, the suspicion regarding a standing army, the realization that proper defenses for the coast would be even more costly, and the huge number of jobs these 2 ships will create in the end allows it to pass.

[TLS]

As New Yorker bellicosity towards Vermont becomes more apparent and public, representatives from Massachusetts' northern neighbors stream south to consult with the government of the Bay State. Vermont and New Hampshire, each seeking to assert their rights to the west of the Connecticut River, send high-level diplomatic envoys; Vermont sends Moses Robinson, who previously represented Vermont before the Continental Congress, while New Hampshire sends Josiah Bartlett, a signatory of the Declaration of Independence.

[Galveston Bay]

1785 budget
port and commerce: 1.54 points
taxes: .44
total 2 points

military budget
maintain 1 fort, 5 infantry companies .6 points
maintain 4 PatRons .4 points
total 1 point
build 1 point Continued construction of the "Constitution" and "Liberty", (Year 2 of 8 ).

[Galveston Bay]

Winter 1785
Appalled by the state of the roads, the State Government takes out a loan of .5 points.  To cover the slight of hand, advertisements are put out for surveyors, but these positions are remarkably slow to fill.

[Galveston Bay]

1785 budget
port and commerce: 1.54 points
taxes: .44
total 2 points

military budget
maintain 1 fort, 5 infantry companies .6 points
maintain 4 PatRons .4 points
total 1 point
build 1 point Continued construction of the "Constitution" and "Liberty", (Year 2 of 8 ).

debt .5
borrow 1 point, repay .5, add .1 in interest to bonds on payment, use other .4 points to maintain 1 militia regiment, 3 militia companies for the entire year
(which is actually funneled to volunteers heading to Vermont or already there)

[TLS]

In late February 1786 a representative from Secretary of State Ira Allen, of the Republic of Vermont, arrives in Boston and begins publicly pleading for the Bay State to enter the war more formally against New York and New Hampshire. He publicizes that he has, in his position, a letter from President Chittenden authorizing any and all terms for a potential treaty of alliance, including a promise to hold elections on the proposed Libertarian Constitution and to personally campaign for its ratification. Critically, the Vermonters indicate that they are willing to do so before the end of hostilities, and thus make the campaign not contingent on first ejecting the New Yorkers.

[Galveston Bay]

In late February 1786 a representative from Secretary of State Ira Allen, of the Republic of Vermont, arrives in Boston and begins publicly pleading for the Bay State to enter the war more formally against New York and New Hampshire. He publicizes that he has, in his position, a letter from President Chittenden authorizing any and all terms for a potential treaty of alliance, including a promise to hold elections on the proposed Libertarian Constitution and to personally campaign for its ratification. Critically, the Vermonters indicate that they are willing to do so before the end of hostilities, and thus make the campaign not contingent on first ejecting the New Yorkers.

The Election to ratify the Libertarian Constitution is held on February 17, 1786.   In a rushed effort, a separate proposal is put on the ballot:

Shall the People of Massachusetts and Maine take up arms to defend the Rights and Freedom of those who call themselves Vermonters?

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