Connecticut State History
In 1614, Adriaen Block, a Dutch explorer, was the first European to sail up the Connecticut River and mapped the area.
Related: Connecticut State Facts
Before this, the Mohegan, Pequot, and Nipmuc Native American tribes occupied the area.
Dutch settlers began arriving in the 1620s and founded the Connecticut Colony in the city of Hartford.
They were Puritans fleeing Europe in search of religious freedom.
Pequot Uprising
The Pequot tribe was upset that they were not in control of all the fur trade. They began attacking the other tribes in the area and the settlers.
The Pequot Chief was captured by some fur traders and held for ransom. However, they killed him instead.
A war broke out and the Pequot were destroyed and nearly wiped out completely.
Dutch Colony becomes English
English settlers began arriving and settling in the same area as the Dutch Connecticut Colony.
The Dutch were soon outnumbered and, in 1662, the Colony was declared English by the King of England by Royal Charter.
The Revolutionary War
During the 1700s, many of the American Colonies began to resist English rule and were adamantly against the Stamp Act of 1765.
The war between the American Colonies and English soldiers broke out in 1775.
Connecticut was one of the first colonies to join in fighting the British troops.
One famous quote was “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes”, by Nathan Hale, a Connecticut patriot who was hanged by the British for spying.
After the war, Connecticut and the other colonies formed a government and constructed the document called the U.S. Constitution in 1788. Connecticut became the 5th state of the United States.
Industrialized Connecticut
Railroads were built in the 1800s linking Connecticut to New York and Massachusetts.
Vulcanized rubber and the assembly line for manufacturing goods were invented to revolutionize industry.
Connecticut became known for building ships and manufacturing clocks, guns, and other goods.
The Civil War
In 1861, Connecticut joined the United States against the Confederates of the south in abolishing slavery.
Connecticut was instrumental in the outcome of the Civil War because of its ability to manufacture and supply the Union Army with ships, weapons, uniforms, among other goods.
Interesting Facts
Yale University was founded in New Haven in 1701.
Militiamen from Connecticut joined the fight at The Battle of Bunker Hill in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War in which the English won.
Webster’s Dictionary was published by Noah Webster in 1806.
Vulcanizing rubber was invented by Charles Goodyear in 1843.
In 1848, slavery is outlawed. Related: 13th Amendment
Connecticut was the first state to establish speed limits for vehicles.
Quiz Time!
QUESTIONS
Why did the Dutch Puritans arrive in the United States?
Why were the Pequot Indians angry with the other tribes and the settlers?
What side did Connecticut join to fight in the Revolutionary War of 1775?
What side did Connecticut join during the Civil War of 1861?
What was the Civil War about?
ANSWERS
The Dutch Puritans arrived in the United States because they were fleeing religious persecution in Europe.
The Pequot Indians wanted to control the fur trade.
Connecticut joined the other colonies to fight the British.
Connecticut joined the Union troops to fight against the Confederates.
The Civil War of 1861 was about slavery; the Confederate states wanted to keep slavery legal and the Union or the United States wanted to abolish slavery.
