Fundamental Orders of Connecticut

The Fundamental Orders were adopted by the Connecticut council on January 14, 1639. The orders describe the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers. It is the first written Constitution that created a government, and earned Connecticut its nickname of The Constitution State.

Origin

In 1637, the towns of Hartford, Weathersfield, and Windsor had started a collective government or commonwealth in order to fight the Pequot War. In the spring of 1638, Reverend Thomas Hooker challenged the General Court to set down and fix the principles of that government. It was his view that "the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people".

Related Topics:
Hartford - Weathersfield - Windsor - Pequot War - Thomas Hooker

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Each town had elected its magistrates and operated a court. Connecticut was very much a common law creature, in that court decisions were viewed as creating precedent, and were documented in Court Orders. The council in turn was called the General Court, and they viewed the Fundamental Orders as a more permanent document. Roger Ludlow of Windsor, who had studied law at the Balliol College, Oxford, drafted the first document and worked in the General Court through discussion and revision.

Related Topics:
Common law - Roger Ludlow - Balliol College - Oxford

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The New Haven Colony was still a separate government, and they saw themselves as being in competition with the Connecticut River towns. They competed in trade, in efforts to attract new colonists and investment, and now in openness of government. They adopted their own similar, Fundamental Orders on June 4, 1639.

Related Topics:
New Haven Colony - June 4 - 1639

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