Feel like people judge you because of your religion. Well come to Connecticut and no one will give you grief because of your religion.
About Thomas Hooker
Thomas hooker was born in 1586 in Leicestershire, which was north of London. Thomas Hooker went to school where he became a Puritan. If he had not became a Puritan then Connecticut wouldn’t have been settled. The reason why he couldn’t have settled was because he originally came from Massachusetts Bay. Then from there he left and brought along some men, women, and children across the Connecticut River. Also John Winthrop should get some credit because without his help by settling Massachusetts. Then Thomas Hooker would have never made the journey to the New world.
Why settle Connecticut?
The main reason why Thomas Hooker settled Connecticut was because Massachusetts was getting to full of settlers from England. This was a problem since there was going to be a shortage of space and food. He also settled Connecticut have more land. They needed land since the most common occupation was farming. And for farming you need land. So in Connecticut there was free land. So they could grow farm and raise livestock just like Massachusetts. This was almost identical to Massachusetts just with a few different things.
Before the Thirteen Colonies
Before the Thirteen colonies were even settled. There were already people living in the New World. While they were actually called Native Americans people referred to then as Indians. The Native Americans occupied the space where all of the colonies are at this moment. The Native American were divided into tribes. In the New World, there were already more than 6,000 tribes occupied the New World. Since there were thousands of tribes, you are probably think they all spoke different languages. That is not the case, all of the Native Americans spoke one language called Algonquian. This language linked all of the tribes as one.
Relationship with Colonist
The relationship between the colonist and the Native Americans are great. The relationship between the two groups was excellent because one another would help each other. One example is a tribe called the Quinnipiac. This tribe was a friendly tribe, who helped the settlers of Connecticut grow corn crops. A second example between the Native Americans and the Colonist friendship they traded goods and products between. Since they were such amazing friends, the colonist built a trading post along the Connecticut River. This allowed easier trading for both Native Americans and colonist.
How Native Americans Live
The Native American don’t have their houses like the colonist home. AS you should know the colonists lived in nice protective houses. While the Native Americans live in houses called wigwams. Wigwams are house that looks like an upside-down cone. It is made from poles which were covered with tree bark and sealed with mud and grass. Their houses are also lightweight, which allow easy travel and pack up.
The colony, Connecticut was founded in the New England region. The colony is at the very bottom of the New England colonies. The colony was surround by New York, Massachusetts, a Rhode Island. New York was a Middle colony not a New England colony. While Massachusetts and Rhode Island are New England colonies. It also has the Long Island below Connecticut.
Connecticut was not only smooth land. It had rolling hills and think woodlands. It also had natural borders like the coastal beaches and even some river valleys. The highest point the hills got up to was about 1700 feet. While everywhere else beside that spot are around 920 feet or lower.
People and Culture
Life in the colony
The average life of most colonists was hard. The good thing is that not only is hard work, but there are many different jobs to do. So not all the jobs require the same amount of hard work and attention as one another. The most common occupation was farming. Farming was hard work, which required a lot of attention, but the good side is that you can grow your own crops and livestock. Other choices of occupations out there are jobs like being a blacksmith, doctor, weaver, shoemaker, farmer, cabinetmaker, miller, and a merchant.
The children’s education was not that great before the year of 1650. During the year 1650 the children’s education got better since the each colony must hire one teacher for every 50 families in a colony. This made all the children go to school and get an excellent education.
Religion and Traditions
Some of the religion people in Connecticut believe in are Christianity, Jewish, and those who don’t believe in God. Everyone who lives in Connecticut doesn’t really comment or dislikes others just because of the religious beliefs. One tradition settlers do on Sundays is something called Sabbath. Sabbath is where all settlers could only practice their religion all day. And couldn’t do anything else beside necessities like feeding livestock.
About the Government
The first government ever created in Connecticut was based off the Fundamental Orders. The people of each town would elect their own representative, who would make the laws. When it came to electing a governor, the whole colony had to elect a governor, but not as an individual towns. This allowed the settlers choose who they wanted as a governor and representative. This also gave more rights to the settlers. This did give the settlers more rights, but still only the leaders in the colony were allowed in the colonial government.
Most of the laws created were from the Fundamental Orders. Some the laws were separation of church and state which meant people could separate from the church without getting punished. Another was all taxes had to be approved before put in effect. There are about 9 other laws were included in the Fundamental Order.
One very important document to Connecticut was called the Fundamental Order. The Fundamental Order was actually a constitution, which was written when Connecticut was settled. This document gave the voters the right to elect leaders.
The most common occupation was farming, which was tending livestock and growing crops. While there are other jobs like being a blacksmith, doctor, weaver, shoemaker, farmer, cabinetmaker, miller, and a merchant. These occupations were not the easiest jobs out there. There are other occupations, but these occupations were the most common jobs found.
The main resources the colonist grew were corn, oats, rye, barley, peas, squash, turnips, and wheat. While the colonist also did raise sheep, cows, and pigs. So far for trading resources, they traded tobacco, flour and salted or pickled beef and pork.
Connecticut produced many things from the resources they grew. Some produced goods were flour, lumber, useful hardware, shoe buckles, candlestick holders, and tools. The settlers also invented and created the first ever brass buckle. This goods were shipped to Africa, West Indies, and even to New England.
We the people of Connecticut are wishing to seeing you in Connecticut soon. The colony of Connecticut welcomes all people into our colony. Please feel to either live here or even visit us for a few days.
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