The Free State

Maryland is nicknamed "The Free State," which I always assumed was in reference to slavery or Catholic settlement. Actually, it originated in 1923, when Georgia Congressman William D. Upshaw "attacked Maryland as a traitor to the union because it never passed a State enforcement act supporting Prohibition. Hamilton Owens' article, 'The Maryland Free State,' was a mocking response to Mr. Upshaw, suggesting that Maryland should secede from the Union before acting to prohibit the sale of liquor."

Maryland's official nickname is "The Old Line State," and its state motto is "Manly Deeds, Womanly Words." I didn't know any of this, but residents of Maryland probably did.

Comments

[Mike]

A few things. One is that Maryland was heavily invested in the liquor trade pre-prohibition, so they had more to lose economically than merely morally. There's a proud (and not-so-proud) tradition of whiskey and rye production in the state, particularly in the western side. Even after prohibition, the sale and manufacture of (apparently high-quality) whiskey continued. The Blue Blazes still near Thurmont (and currently on the site of Camp David) was one of the biggest busts during prohibition. Maryland probably had reason to fear the loss of one of its biggest exports; none of the distilleries re-opened in the state, many keeping the name but moving to Kentucky.
As for the state motto, I've also heard it translated as "Acts are manly, words are womanly". Which is probably the worst state motto.