Connecticut (named after the river of the same name, which is an Indian word meaning 'long river') is a state of the USA. Connecticut is one of the original thirteen states of the American Union and is bounded by New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Long Island Sound. Connecticut contains several distinct ranges of hills, but none of them have any great elevation. Its principal river is the Connecticut, which divides it into two nearly equal parts. The coast is indented with numerous bays and creeks, which furnish many harbours. Its minerals comprise iron, copper, lead, cobalt, plumbago, marble, freestone, porcelain-clay, and coal. Lime is produced in large quantities, and there is an abundance of building-stone. The soil is in general better suited for grazing than tillage, abounding in fine meadows, and fruits, particularly apples, flourish.
Two colonies were established in Connecticut. Certain people, who were dissatisfied with the close connection of church and State in the Massachusetts Bay colony, left that province for the valley of the Connecticut under Thomas Hooker, where they settled Hartford, Windsor and Wethersfield. In 1639 they adopted a Constitution which made no reference to the King of England, and provided for the election of all officers. annually by the people, with no religious qualification.
In 1635 John Winthrop founded Saybrook. Two years later New Haven was founded by a company from England, who came over under Theophilus Baton and John Davenport, to establish a strict theocracy. They adopted the Bible as their Constitution, and refused to institute trial by jury, because it was not recognized by the Bible.
In 1643 Hartford and New Haven both joined the New England Confederation for protection against the Dutch, who claimed the valley of the Connecticut. New Haven was incorporated with Hartford in 1662, under a charter from Charles II, which named the South Sea as the western boundary. This charter was adopted as a Constitution in 1776, and continued in force until 1818. In 1687 Andros had demanded this charter,. but it was concealed in the 'charter oak'.
In 1700 Yale College was. founded. The claims of Connecticut to western lands were surrendered to the General Government. Her claim to Westmoreland County in Northern Pennsylvania was set aside in 1782. Connecticut ratified the national Constitution on January the 9th, 1788, by a vote of 128 to 40.
Connecticut was strongly Federalist until 1820, was opposed to the War of 1812, and sent delegates to-the Hartford Convention of 1814.
The Connecticut is a river of the United States, the west branch of which forms by treaty the boundary between the United States and Canada to latitude 45 degrees North. It rises on the north border of New Hampshire; forms the boundary between Vermont and New Hampshire, passes through the west part of Massachusetts and the central part of Connecticut, and falls into Long Island Sound, a length of about 720 km. It is famed for its shad fisheries. Research Connecticut