The increase in population between 1920 and 1930 was irregu larly distributed, but every county showed an increase, the most notable being Middlesex where the increase was from 778,352 to Norfolk from 21901 to 299,426, and Suffolk from 835,522 to 879,536.
In 1930 98.7% of the population was white, 1.2% negro, and -1% Indian and all others. Of the white population 33.6% was of native-born parentage, 28.3% of foreign parentage, 11.9% of mixed, and 24.8% foreign-born. Owing to their tendency to con gregate in cities, the largest percentage of foreign-born is in the counties of Suffolk, Bristol, Essex, Norfolk, Middlesex, Hamp den, and Worcester.
Of the foreign-born population (1930) 299,040 were from Canada and Newfoundland (115,241 of them French Canadians), 138,366 from the Irish Free state, 20,378 from Northern Ireland, 126,103 from Italy, 78,418 from England, 71,442 from Poland, 67,684 from Russia, 36,810 from Sweden, 32,724 from Scotland, 25,219 from Lithuania, 24,840 from Portugal, and 20,538 from Germany.
The preponderance of females over males is greater than in any other State in the Union, there being (1930) 2,071,672 males and females. At the age of 64, 80.2% of the population are or have been married; 1,814,422 persons over io years of age are engaged in gainful occupations male and 529,968 fe male) ; and of these almost half, or 837,446, are in manufacturing as against only 63,942 in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
Until nearly the end of the 18th century the population was unusually homogeneous. In 1794 some apprehension was ex pressed over the numbers of Irish arriving but the great wave of Irish immigration did not occur until the decade 1830-40. The great increase in the Italian population has mainly taken place since 1885. By 1850 the native population had largely been driven out of manufacturing by the influx of foreigners who underbid them on wages. Owing to immigration the population has become
overwhelmingly Roman Catholic.
first government, other than that of the Plymouth settlement, was based upon the charter of 1629 which was intended to be merely the charter for a commercial company, but which was twisted by the colonists into a political constitu tion The system of "towns" created became the most character istic feature of the New England system. The word meant a "township," an area of considerable extent which might include several settlements, villages, etc. Each township had the right of sending deputies to represent it in the General court, as the legis lature was styled. The affairs of the towns, including election of officers and representatives, were conducted in town meetings at which all citizens had the right to speak although the franchise was for long limited by religious requirements. The town meeting was a political school of prime importance and although the sys tem has less significance now it has been abandoned slowly and with reluctance even in the larger places, Boston, for example, refusing incorporation as a city until z822 when it had a popula tion of 47,00o. Representative government dates from 1634 and the General court was divided into two chambers in 1644. The old charter was annulled in 1684 and a royal one, with a governor ap pointed by the Crown, substituted in 1691. The government functioned under this until the Revolutionary period when, first, committees and, next, a provincial congress took over the duties. The present constitution, adopted in 1780, is the oldest of all State constitutions still in force. There have been 71 amendments to it up to 1937. Townships ceased to be represented as such after 1856. The franchise is enjoyed by all citizens, male and female, over 21 years old (insane, etc., being excluded). The last religious test even for office-holders was abandoned 1821 and the last rem nant of a property qualification 1891, and sex distinction 1924. A slight educational test can still be enforced. Massachusetts was the first State to adopt the blanket ballot in which the names of candidates are arranged alphabetically without party columns. A relic of colonial times is the council, a body elected to represent divisions of the State to assist the governor in executive functions. In 1916 the jurisdiction of district or municipal courts was ex tended to run throughout the State.