The United States is made 46 states and 4 commonwealths — Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, and Kentucky.  While in modern politics, this is an academic distinction, the term “commonwealth” defined as a political entity founded for the good of the people; whereas a “state” existing for the benefit of its citizens. The term United
States, was deliberately chosen by the founding fathers to underscore the INDEPENDENCE of these states from any allegiance to any one individual, such as a monarch or proprietor (like William Penn).  Revolutionary ideals of governance and political rhetoric that were paramount to the cause of American independence. 

Commonwealth status is frequently associated with the dissolution of the British Empire and countries like Canada and Australia.  There are fifty-six nations that were formerly part of the British Empire but now independently claim “commonwealth” status with the English Monarchy but not the secular state of Great Britian. Three of the four U.S. commonwealths were once under British rule, and their name is a holdback to that era.  The word dates back to the mid-15th century and was given weight by political philosophers such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes throughout the 17th century. The term was also popularized during this period due to the execution of England’s King Charles I in 1649. After the king’s death, the Britian was declared a republic[i], and was known as the Commonwealth of England until the monarchy was restored in 1660.  Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts were settled during this period of turmoil in England.

Virginia adopted the commonwealth designation for a short time during England’s Interregnum (“between reigns”) period and brought it back when the state adopted its own constitution in 1776. According to the Hornbook of Virginia History, the term was chosen “most likely to emphasize that Virginia’s new government was based upon the sovereignty of the people united for the common good.” Pennsylvania followed suit, officially affirming the authority of its citizens with a commonwealth designation in its 1776 constitution. The name fit well with Pennsylvania founder William Penn’s long-standing ethos of democratic governance and equality. Massachusetts also sought a clear break from monarchical rule. When the state’s constitution was drafted in 1780, it used the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as the state’s official name and to describe the government of the state. The Massachusetts Constitution was primarily authored by John Adams, who was heavily influenced by Enlightenment ideals that promoted the idea of governments existing to help enforce collective well-being.  Unlike the other three commonwealths, Kentucky was not one of the original 13 colonies — it was part of Virginia until it split off and became its own state in 1792. It wasn’t until 1891 and the fourth version of the state’s constitution that Kentucky styled itself a commonwealth. The change was likely influenced by its historical ties to Virginia as well as the impact of the Pennsylvania Constitution, which was seen as one of the most democratic of its time.

Calling a state a commonwealth made no functional or legal difference the distinction was purely symbolic. Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Massachusetts, and Virginia are commonwealths “because their constitutional drafters declared they were.” The other U.S. territories, that claim “commonwealth” status are a bit different. Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands are both classified as commonwealths; they are yet not U.S. states, but also not independent countries but like Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia, these American commonwealths were established based on same values of democracy and common welfare. Perhaps this explains why Puerto Rico has repeatedly chosen not to pursue statehood.

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[i] Following the English Civil War, Charles I’s son, “Bonnie Prince Charles”, was forced into foreign exile despite being accepted and crowned King in Scotland.  From 1649 to 1660, England was therefore a republic during a period known as the Interregnum (‘between reigns’). A series of political experiments followed, as the country’s rulers tried to redefine and establish a workable constitution without a monarchy.  Throughout the Interregnum, Oliver Cromwell, the “Lord Protector”, had a troubled relationship with Parliament.  There were tensions over the nature of the constitution and the issue of supremacy, control of the armed forces and debate over religious toleration.  At one stage Cromwell resorted to regional rule by a number of the army’s Major Generals. After Cromwell’s death in 1658, and the failure of his son Richard’s short-lived Protectorate, the army under General Monk invited Charles’s son to become King as Charles II, restoring the monarchy.

Jousting tournaments were held in Maryland in colonial times, they really gained a following in farming communities during the Civil War where these events held as a method of fundraising for various aid organizations.  The tradition stuck, and the state’s love of jousting culminated in a 1962 law making it the official sport of Maryland. Not only was Maryland the first to choose jousting as its state sport, but it was also the first state to have an official sport at all (Football in Texas is a religion and not eligible for state sport status 😊).

Today, jousters in Maryland don’t put on medieval-style displays. They maneuver their lances into various-sized rings suspended above the ground, capturing the rings for points. During a ring joust, a rider holding a sharply pointed lance gets to take three runs down an 80-yard track, passing under a trio of arches along the way. A small ring hangs from each arch, and the goal is to spear as many as you can in a limited amount of time. The size of the ring and the allotted time to make it down the track are determined by the level of competition. This “ring jousting” reduces the likelihood of serious injury but allows jousters the same thrill of thundering down the course a full gallop toward a target.

In 2004, Maryland added lacrosse as the state’s official team sport, but jousting is still THE official sport whether individual or team.  Many see uniqueness of the sport and its success as a family pastime as the keys to its continuing appeal.

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