MARYLAND
State Information
Nickname(s): Old Line State, America in Miniature
Motto(s): Strong Deeds, Gentle Words
State song(s): Maryland, My Maryland
Capital Annapolis
Largest City Baltimore
Admitted to US 4/28/1788 7th State
Brief History
Here are a few interesting facts about Maryland:
The US Naval Academy was founded in Annapolis in 1845.
Baltimore was home to the first railroad station.
The first telegraph line was installed between Washington and Baltimore.
John Work Garet was the president of the B&O Railroad and designed the library located in Baltimore.
Some famous people from Maryland include Mike Rowe (TV personality), Cal Ripken (baseball), Tom Clancy (writer), Thurgood Marshall (Supreme Court Justice), and many others.
Interesting Stories
George Herman (Babe) Ruth was born in Baltimore. An unruly child, Babe spent most of his young life in a reformatory. Hitting baseballs through windows was not appreciated, so his reform school teachers put him on a baseball team. Later, he signed with the Baltimore Orioles as a pitcher. His baby face earned him the nickname “Babe.” After being traded to the Boston Red Sox, his reputation as a home run hitter blossomed. He led Boston to a world-series championship. Much to the dismay of his fans, he was traded to New York for the largest amount of money ever paid. While at the Yankees, he broke record after record and became baseball’s most recognized player.
Francis Scott Key was born in Maryland in 1779. During the War of 1812, he was onboard a British battleship, attempting to negotiate the release of prisoners. He was not allowed to return to shore because the British began an attack on Baltimore. The next morning, Key saw an American flag waving in the distance. It triggered him to write a poem, which formed the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner. The song was adopted as the Nation’s national anthem. Congress passed a law setting forth the proper protocol while playing the national anthem.
Francis Peyton Rous was born in Baltimore. He was a student at John Hopkins Medical School. He was doing an autopsy in his second year when he scraped his finger and contracted tuberculous. He dropped out of school to recover, but he returned and graduated. After graduating, Dr. Rous noticed that domestic chickens would transmit a form of cancer from one chicken to another. His personal experience caused him to search for a transmission path for cancer relentlessly, and he found it. It was a virus. He received a Nobel Prize for this discovery. Personal experiences create powerful incentives.
Thomas DiLorenzo teaches Economics at Loyola University, Maryland. He has his Ph.D. in Economics and published a book entitled “The Problem With Socialism.” He reported that 43% of millennials view socialism more favorably than capitalism, and 69% would vote for a socialist presidential candidate. Unfortunately, they do not understand that socialism is very similar to communism. This type of government has killed over 100 million people and countless impoverished numbers in the 20th century. Strangely, socialism causes pollution, whereas capitalism protects the environment. Socialism leads to war, whereas capitalism is peaceful. Socialism consolidates power among a few, whereas capitalism decentralizes and disperses power. Venezuela is a prime example. Their change from a capitalistic to a socialistic society resulted in them going from being the wealthiest country in South America to one of abject poverty. DiLorenzo concludes that socialism is “the biggest generator of poverty the world has ever known.”