Jonah Patel
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, were a crucial step towards democracy and influenced the creation of the US Constitution. They outlined the structure and powers of the Connecticut River towns' government, emphasizing rule through the consent of the governed. Notably, the Orders omitted any reference to the authority of the British Crown, establishing an independent government. The document's features resembled a written constitution, with provisions for elections, secret ballots, and freedom of speech. Connecticut earned the nickname The Constitution State due to the Orders' significance, which served as a model for other state constitutions and eventually the nation's constitution.
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What You'll Learn
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut were the first written constitution
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in January 1639, are considered by some to be the first written constitution in the Western world. They described the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers. The document is notable for omitting any reference to the authority of the British Crown or any external authority, instead assigning supreme authority in the colony to the elected General Court.
The Fundamental Orders were influenced by a sermon delivered by the Rev. Thomas Hooker, who proclaimed, "The foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people," and "As God has given us liberty, let us take it." The settlers established the political right to create the form of government under which they should live, along with provisions for annual elections, the secret ballot, rotation in office, and the "liberty of speech" for elected representatives.
The document consisted of a preamble and 11 "orders" or laws. These laws included rules for scheduling meetings, holding elections by free men using secret ballots, and giving the governor and six elected magistrates the "power to administer justice according to the laws here established" in the General Court. Each town was also required to elect four "deputies" to create a legislative branch, and the colony was given the power to tax.
The Fundamental Orders served as a model for other state constitutions and eventually for the nation. They embody the concept of rule through "the consent of the governed," which made such an impression on Thomas Jefferson that he included these words in the Declaration of Independence.
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The document was inspired by Thomas Hooker's sermon
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, considered the first written constitution in the Western tradition, was inspired by Reverend Thomas Hooker's sermon. Hooker, a towering figure in the early development of colonial New England, was a Puritan minister who journeyed from England to Holland to Massachusetts in search of religious freedom. He was a powerful preacher and erudite writer on Christian subjects. Hooker played a significant role in the founding of both the city of Hartford and the state of Connecticut.
On May 31, 1638, Hooker delivered a sermon in Hartford, declaring that "the foundation of authority is laid firstly in the free consent of the people." This statement, a radical concept at the time, became the guiding principle of the representative system that the United States would adopt centuries later. In an era when nations were ruled by monarchs and leaders inherited or conquered power, Hooker's idea that government should be formed with the people's consent was groundbreaking.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted on January 14, 1639, by the Connecticut Colony council, reflected Hooker's philosophy. It described the government established by the Connecticut River towns, outlining its structure and powers. Notably, the document vested supreme authority in the elected General Court, omitting any reference to the British Crown or external authority. This assertion of self-governance was a significant departure from the Mayflower Compact, which acknowledged the British monarch as the authorizing agent.
The influence of Hooker's sermon can be seen in the Fundamental Orders' emphasis on "the consent of the governed." This concept, central to Hooker's message, made a lasting impression on Thomas Jefferson, who included it in the Declaration of Independence. The Fundamental Orders also established rights such as annual elections, the secret ballot, rotation in office, and freedom of speech for elected representatives.
The legacy of Thomas Hooker's sermon and the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut extends beyond the state. The ideas they embodied, particularly the notion of government by the consent of the governed, helped shape the United States Constitution and the nation's commitment to democratic principles.
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It established Connecticut as a self-ruled colony
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, established Connecticut as a self-ruled colony. The document was drafted by a group of Puritans and other settlers who were dissatisfied with the rate of Anglican reforms and sought to establish their own rules and regulations. The settlers wanted their government to have access to the open ocean for trading.
The Fundamental Orders described the government set up by the Connecticut River towns, setting its structure and powers. Notably, the document assigns supreme authority in the colony to the elected General Court, omitting any reference to the authority of the British Crown or any other external authority. Instead, it recognised the free consent of the governed as the foundation of authority, with "the power to administer justice according to the laws here established".
The Orders also required each town to elect four "deputies" to create a legislative branch and gave the emerging colony the power to tax. The right to vote was limited to "admitted inhabitants" and "freemen", with paupers, itinerants, and other undesirable newcomers refused admission.
The Fundamental Orders served as a model for other state constitutions and, eventually, the US Constitution. Connecticut earned the nickname "The Constitution State" due to the influence of this document.
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The orders set the structure and powers of the government
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, set the structure and powers of the government by establishing Connecticut as a self-ruled colony. The document was based on the philosophy promoted by Hartford founder, Reverend Thomas Hooker, who preached that "the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people," and "as God has given us liberty, let us take it."
The Fundamental Orders outlined the rules for scheduling meetings and holding elections by free men using secret ballots. It also gave the governor and six elected magistrates the "power to administer justice according to the laws here established" in the General Court. The Orders required each town to elect four "deputies" to create a legislative branch and gave the emerging colony the power to tax.
The document is notable for omitting any reference to the authority of the British Crown or any external authority, instead assigning supreme authority to the elected General Court. This marked a significant departure from the Mayflower Compact, which acknowledged the British monarch as the authorizing agent. The Fundamental Orders established the right of the settlers to create the form of government under which they would live, with provisions for annual elections, the secret ballot, rotation in office, and "liberty of speech" for elected representatives.
The Fundamental Orders served as a model for other state constitutions and eventually for the nation, influencing the structure and powers of the US government. It is considered by some to be the first written constitution in the Western tradition, setting a precedent for a written constitution as the basis of government.
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The orders served as a model for other state constitutions
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, adopted in 1639, laid down the framework for the government of the Connecticut Colony. It is considered by some historians, including John Fiske, to be the first written constitution in the Western tradition. The document is significant as it assigns supreme authority in the colony to an elected general court, with no mention of the authority of the British Crown or any external power.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut served as a model for other state constitutions in several ways. Firstly, it established the principle of "rule through the consent of the governed," a concept that influenced the Declaration of Independence. This idea was inspired by a sermon from the Rev. Thomas Hooker, who proclaimed that "the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people." Secondly, it introduced the concept of a written constitution as the basis of government, which could be understood and accessed by all citizens. This stood in contrast to the unwritten constitution of the British, which was composed of customs, traditions, and important documents like the Magna Carta.
The Fundamental Orders also outlined specific provisions for governance, including the establishment of a legislative branch, annual elections, the secret ballot, rotation in office, and freedom of speech for elected representatives. These ideas influenced other state constitutions and eventually the United States Constitution. The document recognised two types of voters: "admitted inhabitants" and "freemen." "Admitted inhabitants" referred to those who were allowed to settle in a town, excluding paupers, itinerants, or other undesirable newcomers. "Freemen" were a more selective group who could serve as deputies, vote for the governor and magistrates, and had sovereign power.
The influence of the Fundamental Orders extended beyond Connecticut and played a role in shaping the constitutions of other states. For example, the Pennsylvania Charter of Privileges, the Virginia Declaration of Rights and Constitution, and the Massachusetts Bill of Rights all emerged as a result of the ideas put forth in the Fundamental Orders. The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut, with its emphasis on self-governance, individual rights, and democratic principles, set a precedent for other states to follow in establishing their own constitutions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, some authors and historians consider the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut to be the first written constitution in the Western tradition. This claim is disputed by some modern historians, who argue that the Mayflower Compact has an equal claim.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut are believed to have influenced the US Constitution by serving as a model for other state constitutions. The concept of "rule through the consent of the governed" from the Fundamental Orders made an impression on Thomas Jefferson, who included these words in the Declaration of Independence.
The Fundamental Orders of Connecticut established Connecticut as a self-ruled colony, with a government structure and powers outlined in the document. It set up a system of representative democracy, with provisions for annual elections, the secret ballot, rotation in office, and freedom of speech for elected representatives.
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