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Native Americans

Connecticut has been home to humans for over 10,000 years. This time period has been categorized into four eras of Native American history: Paleo-Indian, Archaic, Woodland, and Historic. The first people to live in Connecticut were the Paleo-Indians. After the last ice age, these people migrated across the land bridge Alaska shared with Asia and settled in the Northeast. They lived a nomadic lifestyle, surviving by hunting animals and gathering plants and nuts. They migrated to different locations throughout the year in search of food and made camps in river and stream valleys. Using primitive weapons and moving with the seasons, the Paleo-Indians learned to survive in the harsh Northeastern weather and were able to sustain themselves for thousands of years.

The Archaic Period, which lasted from about 9,000 to 3,000 years ago, saw significant changes in the Native peoples' environment and way of life. The climate warmed and became more hospitable to diverse plants and animals. The abundance of edible plants and animals helped sustain larger human populations. The Archaic Indians lived similarly to the Paleo-Indians. They were still nomadic, often returning to the same camps on a seasonal basis. They hunted and gathered food, which was more abundant; therefore easier to find. The major change in ancient Indian life came during the Woodland period.
The Woodland Period, lasting from 3,000 to 400 years ago, witnessed many Native American advances. Tools and pottery became more sophisticated, the bow and arrow was invented, and plants were domesticated. These improvements allowed for even larger populations than during the Archaic period. Instead of temporary camps, villages were created, ending the seasonal nomadic routine. Corn, beans, and squash were grown to compliment the hunted and gathered food.
Connecticut's modern Indians are defined as the tribes who occupied the area during the time of European exploration and settlement in the 17th century. There were as many as sixteen different Native American tribes in Connecticut.(1) These people lived in small villages, were partly nomadic, and depended on agriculture. They first felt the presence of Europeans before they actually arrived in their area. In 1633, small pox spread throughout the Connecticut Indian population after being transmitted to the Indians of Massachusetts by Europeans. From this point on, European contact only brought the Native Americans more disease, warfare, and encroachment that decimated their population. Many of the Indians fled, while others assimilated. Presently there are five Indian Reservationsin Connecticut, although the majority of people in Connecticut with Native American heritage don't live on reservations.
Colonial Connecticut: From the Dutch to the English Settlers

The Dutch, who were interested in setting up trade with the Native Americans, were the first Europeans to explore the area that is now Connecticut. In 1614, Adrien Block was sent up the Connecticut River in search of a trading location. The Dutch set up a trading post, called the House of Good Hope, at present-day Hartford in 1633. Their interest was not that of settlement, but of new trade opportunities. Conversely, the English settlers of Massachusetts were primarily concerned with settlement, and were soon spreading into the Connecticut area. The English colonists first began to explore the Connecticut lands in 1632, and within a year, settlers had arrived. The first English settlers came from Plymouth, Massachusetts and created the town of Windsor. The winter was harsh, and many returned to Massachusetts. However, more colonists arrived in the spring, and the settlement continued to grow. The towns of Hartford and Wethersfield were founded soon after. Known as the River Towns, Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield, became the focal point of Connecticut settlement during the early 17th century, and provided migrants for other Connecticut towns.

Early Connecticut settlement patterns followed two distinct routes, along the Connecticut River and along the coast. The first coastal towns included Saybrook, New Haven, Milford, Greenwich, Fairfield, New London, and Stonington. Native American relations and border disputes dictated the expansion of the coastal and river settlements. The land north of Windsor was claimed by both Connecticut and Massachusetts, so settlers ran the risk of being caught in a border dispute. The colonists did not have peaceful relations with the Natives who lived south of Windsor, so settlement did not spread to there until 1646.(2) Towns began to grow more rapidly as the Native Americans left the area, resulting in the creation of 24 new towns between 1650 and 1720. Most of the towns were in the Connecticut River Valley and were inhabited by settlers from the towns of Windsor, Hartford, and Wethersfield.
The early settlers of Connecticut were very homogeneous, originally migrating from the counties of southeastern, southwestern, northern, and central England. The majority of these people were farmers and servants; smaller percentages were craftsmen. The population remained overwhelmingly English during the 18th century, but by 1790, Connecticut was home to a significant number of Scottish settlers. Scots were present in Connecticut during the early



Colonial period, which is reflected in the Scottish settlement of Scotland, founded near Windham in 1700. However, the majority of Scottish settlers arrived later in the 18th century. By 1790, there were over 6,000 Scots in Connecticut.


Connecticut During the Revolution

Connecticut was home to both pro-England supporters (Tories/Loyalists) and patriots. The strong Puritan base and the colony's reliance on self-government created many hostilities towards British rule. The people of Connecticut reacted in severe opposition to the Stamp Act, Sugar Act, and the Townshend Duties, all of which were taxes implemented by England on the Colonies during the 1760s. There was also a strong pro-England movement in the western part of Connecticut, which was home to a large population of Anglicans (adherents to the Church of England). Loyalty in Connecticut could be viewed regionally; the strongest Loyalist contingency lied in the west, and the strongest anti-British sentiment was found in the east.

In 1766, the eastern anti-England contingency had taken over the Council, shifting the power away from the Loyalists. From this point on, Connecticut showed its support for the colonies by participating in the non-importation movement, where the colonists boycotted British goods. Further support was shown when Connecticut supported Massachusetts during the Boston Tea Party incident.

After the Declaration of Independence in July of 1776, Connecticut's Tories were identified and disarmed. Over 1,000 Loyalists fled to New York to escape harsh treatment in Connecticut.(3) Once the war began, Connecticut contributed men and provisions for the war effort. Known as the "Provision State," Connecticut supplied food, including corn, rye, wheat, oats, barley, flax, vegetables, and fruit from the fertile Thames River Valleys.(4) Clothing, gunpowder and other weaponry were also among Connecticut's contributions.

Connecticut was not home to prolonged military engagements, only small battles. Benedict Arnold's attack on New London in 1781 became Connecticut's most famous battle. During this attack, eighty people at Fort Griswold were killed and the town of New London was destroyed. Connecticut's Navy achieved more success than its troops, capturing over forty British ships throughout the duration of the war. Connecticut privateers, who were legally sanctioned pirates, captured hundreds of British ships and confiscated both men and booty in the name of war.

Connecticut's representatives, Roger Sherman, Oliver Ellsworth, and William Samuel Johnson, were essential to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia following the war. Sherman's proposed "Connecticut Compromise" was crucial in breaking a deadlock at the convention. The compromise set up what we know today as the House of Representatives and the Senate. Connecticut was the fifth state to ratify the constitution, officially joining the union in January of 1788.

Connecticut During the Early 19th Century

Connecticut faced many changes to its population, economy, and government during the first half of the 19th century. The new state quickly faced trouble with the embargo that preceded the War of 1812. Without trade with Europe, Connecticut's economy floundered. Anti-Jefferson sentiment ran high and most of Connecticut's citizens did not support the second war with England and then Governor, Roger Griswold, refused to supply his militia to the United States Government. Political matters were soon complicated when the British attacked Connecticut at Essex and Stonington. Despite their resentment towards the war and refusal to participate, the people of Connecticut complained that they were abandoned by the government and left undefended. Men representing the New England states met in Hartford and created a set of amendments to protect themselves against the federal government, but the end of the war put a stop to any ideas of leaving the union.

Connecticut's government witnessed a major shift in power during this time. The Constitution of 1818 ended the Puritan Commonwealth and terminated the established church. This took the power away from the religious elite and distributed it to the individual towns. Established towns were allowed two representatives in the lower house of the General Assembly; new towns were allowed only one. This gradually led to the domination of the state government by the older, established parts of the state.
The economy was responsible for other significant changes in the course of Connecticut's 19th century existence. The decline of agriculture forced the creation of a diverse manufacturing economy. The state's industrial economy was based on many different products, ranging from clock manufacturing to medicine production. Between 1790 and 1930, Connecticut ranked at, or near, the top for the number of patents granted per state.(5) This "Yankee ingenuity" created diversity that helped to solidify the economy and secure it from recessions and declines. During mid-century, the availability of easy transportation helped Connecticut's manufacturers reach even bigger and more stable markets.

One of the less fortunate events that Connecticut experienced during this time was a rapid out-migration of citizens. This out-migration was triggered by a combination of political and economical factors. One of the earliest causes of migration was the Revolution. Some, such as the Loyalists, were forced out during the war. Others settled in Vermont during the Revolution because Vermont did not levy taxes on land. The people from the upland counties of Tolland and Windham and from the hill towns of Litchfield County formed two major waves of Vermont settlers.

A much stronger cause for migration was the state's stagnant agricultural economy. During the late 18th and early 19th centuries, it became apparent that Connecticut could not compete in the larger agricultural economy because of the environment and primitive farming techniques. Connecticut was limited by its size and short growing season, leaving little room for the younger generations to obtain their own farmland. Many young people left Connecticut for the west, where land was plentiful. Between 1780 and 1840, nearly 750,000 people left Connecticut. Early western migrants from Connecticut went to Iroquois land in New York. Connecticut migrants founded Kirkland, New York. The majority of Connecticut's migrants settled in the Midwest. The Western Reserve, an area of land bordering Lake Erie and Pennsylvania, was governed by Connecticut until 1800. Small numbers of Connecticut citizens migrated there during the 1790s and 1800s. Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan also drew significant numbers of settlers from Connecticut. These migrants used their agricultural and inventive traditions to help build the new cities of the west.

Anti-Slavery and the Civil War

Although far removed from the physical battleground of the Civil War, Connecticut was on the frontlines of the political battlefield. Many of Connecticut's citizens were anti-slavery advocates, participating in abolitionist societies and political groups. The Amistad incident brought the anti-slavery issue to Connecticut's foreground in 1839. The Amistad was a Cuban slave ship that had been taken over by the slaves. It was captured by a United States naval vessel and escorted to New Haven. The Spanish government wanted the slaves returned, but the slaves fought for their freedom. Connecticut citizens helped the slaves find legal representation, which was essential to their quest for freedom. The case went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, which held the Connecticut judicial decision that the slaves should go free.

Although Connecticut had a strong abolitionist movement, Connecticut's blacks were not treated as equal citizens. Prejudice and discrimination abounded in employment and educational opportunities. Nonetheless, Connecticut remained active in the anti-slavery movement and was staunchly pro-Union during the war.

Connecticut took a similar role during the Civil War as they did during the Revolution. The state provided many supplies for the troops. Uniforms and other clothing, including textiles, brass buttons, rubber blankets, ponchos and boots were manufactured in Connecticut. Arms, ammunition, steamships, and cavalry equipment were also supplied by the "Provisions State." In addition to equipment, Connecticut supplied over 55,000 men. Over 20,000 of them suffered casualties.

Late 19th Century Connecticut

The two major developments that characterized Connecticut's history during the second half of the 19th century were immigration and industrialization. The manufacturing economy that emerged during the first half of the century blossomed during the second half. Between 1870 and 1900, the number of manufacturers in Connecticut nearly doubled, as did the state's gross product.(6) Textiles and hardware were the leading industries, but smaller manufacturing endeavors prospered as well, such as typewriter and bell production.
The workforce that fueled the industrialization was drawn from the thousands of immigrants who flooded Connecticut during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. During the first half of the century, Connecticut received only small numbers of immigrants. In 1850, only about ten percent of the state's population was foreign born. This changed dramatically during the second half of the century. Millions of immigrants came to the United States during this time. Most were from Europe, and many were from the southern and eastern European countries. Connecticut appealed to many immigrants because of the ample industrial opportunities. Most of the immigrants had limited skills and were willing to do factory work. The factories drew thousands of immigrants, and by 1930, seventy-five percent of Connecticut's population was foreign born.(7)


Connecticut's
Leading Industries, 1900
(Roth, 149)
Textiles ($50 million)
Hardware ($25 million)
Machine Tools ($20 million)
Hats ($7 million)
Electrical Supplies ($3 million)
Typewriters ($750,000)


The largest immigrant groups in Connecticut were the Italians, Irish, Poles, and French Canadians. Italian immigration began somewhat later than other groups, such as the Irish and Germans. Italians arrived in Connecticut in large numbers during the first decade of the 20th century. By 1910, over 60,000 Italians had settled in the state.
The earliest Italian immigrants were largely from the provinces of Potenza, Calabria, Salerno, and Abruzzi, but the immigrations soon included large numbers from the southern regions, especially Sicily. Italians were most prevalent in Hartford, where they settled on the east side, in what became known as Little Italy. The Italian community of New Haven was centered in Wooster Square, an area previously inhabited by Irish. This shift in enclave dominance shows the change in immigration patterns during the late 19th century. The Irish, Connecticut's second largest immigrant group, began migration to the United States long before the Italians. The legendary Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s spurred an emigration of Irish that numbered into the millions. Irish people continued to immigrate to the United States throughout the 19th century, and became one of the largest ethnic groups in the country.

Most of the immigrants who came to Connecticut during this time were in search of better economic opportunities. Whether fleeing crop failures, such as the Irish and the Italians, or escaping religious and political persecution, such as the Russians, Jews, and Poles, these people looked to America for sanctuary and opportunity. They fueled the growing industrial economy and solidified Connecticut's move from a rural to an urban state. Almost all of the immigrants settled in cities. Each city drew different immigrant groups depending on the factories the town had. Hartford and New Haven were the two cities with the largest immigrant populations, but enclaves existed in many other cities. New Britain housed large Armenian, Swedish, and Polish populations, and Torrington had more French and Swiss immigrants than any other town in Connecticut.
The earliest Italian immigrants were largely from the provinces of Potenza, Calabria, Salerno, and Abruzzi, but the immigrations soon included large numbers from the southern regions, especially Sicily. Italians were most prevalent in Hartford, where they settled on the east side, in what became known as Little Italy. The Italian community of New Haven was centered in Wooster Square, an area previously inhabited by Irish. This shift in enclave dominance shows the change in immigration patterns during the late 19th century. The Irish, Connecticut's second largest immigrant group, began migration to the United States long before the Italians. The legendary Irish Potato Famine of the 1840s spurred an emigration of Irish that numbered into the millions. Irish people continued to immigrate to the United States throughout the 19th century, and became one of the largest ethnic groups in the country.

Most of the immigrants who came to Connecticut during this time were in search of better economic opportunities. Whether fleeing crop failures, such as the Irish and the Italians, or escaping religious and political persecution, such as the Russians, Jews, and Poles, these people looked to America for sanctuary and opportunity. They fueled the growing industrial economy and solidified Connecticut's move from a rural to an urban state. Almost all of the immigrants settled in cities. Each city drew different immigrant groups depending on the factories the town had. Hartford and New Haven were the two cities with the largest immigrant populations, but enclaves existed in many other cities. New Britain housed large Armenian, Swedish, and Polish populations, and Torrington had more French and Swiss immigrants than any other town in Connecticut.

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