Gov. Healey: Southeastern Massachusetts powering American progress

As Massachusetts marks the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence, we remember that it all began here — from the iconic sites of Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the American Revolution rang out, to Boston, where defiance brewed in the harbor. While these places are sacred chapters in our shared American story, the Revolution stretched far beyond battlefields and harbors. It unfolded in the towns and cities that powered Massachusetts and propelled us toward progress. To understand the grit, labor, and spirit of reinvention that marked the American Revolution and the legacy of innovation and progress that defines our state, we must also turn our eyes south, to the port towns and industrial cities of Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton.

Southeastern Massachusetts is a region whose revolutionary identity is embedded in every wharf, mill, and Main Street. In 1774, a full year before the shots at Lexington and Concord, Taunton raised what may have been the first American flag to boldly reject British rule, an early declaration of independence flown from the town green bearing the word “Liberty.” That moment was more than symbolic, it was a declaration that the people would chart the course of our nation.

New Bedford’s story is one steeped in revolutionary spirit. Once the whaling capital of the world, the whale oil from New Bedford ships fueled the literal and metaphorical fires of the 19th century. The city was also a hub of abolitionist activity and a haven for freedom seekers on the Underground Railroad. Frederick Douglass, having escaped slavery, found a community in New Bedford that recognized his voice and his value. It was from here that Douglass launched his career as an anti-slavery lecturer and inspired generations of Americans to advocate for freedom and equality for all.

This May, Fall River will bring to life the region’s legacy of revolution with the Battle of Fall River Reenactment Weekend commemorating Colonel Joseph Durfee and his 16 militiamen’s 1778 resistance against British troops near today’s Anawan and Pocasset Streets. Outnumbered and outgunned, these patriots stood their ground, defending their village against the advance of the British. This skirmish, now remembered as the Battle of Fall River, stands as a testament to local courage and resilience.

That spirit carried forward into another kind of revolution: an industrial one shaped by the inspiring stories of the immigrant community. French Canadians, Portuguese, Irish, Cape Verdeans, and many others helped transform the City of Seven Hills into a manufacturing powerhouse.

These cities have contributed to a distinctly American story, and the future here is vibrant. Southeastern Massachusetts is home to clean energy innovation, marine science research, and a cultural renaissance that honors the past while welcoming new voices. New Bedford’s creative economy is thriving, Fall River’s waterfront is being reimagined, and Taunton remains a place where civic pride fuels progress.

As we commemorate our state’s key 250^th milestones, we are certain to celebrate the flags raised and the ports defended. But this special anniversary will also celebrate the classrooms, art studios, research labs, and neighborhoods that are shaping Massachusetts’ next revolution—one of inclusion, sustainability, resilience, and, always, liberty.