PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Founders
The year 1614 a Dutch explorer named Adrian Block found what we call Connecticut and it was also found by an English man named John Oldham in 1633. Thomas Hooker was a Puritan Minister and he led his congregation to Connecticut in June of 1636, and he is considered the founder.
Reasons for being Founded
Thomas hooker went to Massachusetts, a colony built on Puritan principles, because he was not allowed to practice his puritan beliefs in his native England. He was disturbed by the lack of democracy in Massachusetts. He decided to leave to go to Connecticut to find more religious freedom.
People in the Colony
Native Americans lived near the Quinnequktuqut River and in 1631 Native Americans offered Europeans to settle in there land in exchange for protection; instead they were killed or forced into slavery. Dutch and Swedish settlers also lived in Connecticut.
Climate and Geography
Winters in Connecticut were much colder and summers were mild compared to England. The terrain was hilly and filled with forests. Farms were small so they made a living of of the sea by fishing, trading, and whaling.
Economy
Common crops such as corn, pumpkins, beans, squash, and apples were farmed for families and a little more to trade. Livestock were raised for beef and milk. Colonist hunted for game and they did their own weaving and made their own homes out of the forests surrounding them.
Religion
Since most colonists came to Connecticut from Puritan communities, they followed Puritan beliefs. These colonist made sure to separate their religious codes from their colonial laws more completely than colonists in Massachusetts.
Politics and Government
Connecticut's colonists had the world's first written constitution and it was called the Fundamental Orders. It stated that there should be one representative from each town, six magistrates, and one Governor were all elected by the free white men of the colony.
