Connecticut State Library. Libirties & Legends

What do I expect to learn?

• I expect to learn how the Connecticut’s constitutional government formed in the seventeenth century..
• I expect to learn about the three original towns of Hartford, Whethersfield, and Windsor and their governments.
• I would like to make connections to the Royal Charter of 1662 granted by Charles II to Connecticut’s Fundamental Orders
• I wonder what the big deal about the Charter Oak Tree and I hope to gain a better understanding of that?
• My hopes are the exhibit dives deeper into Connecticut’s venerated icons.

 

What did I learn?

• Under King Charles II monarcy, Connecticut’s General court decided to take charge of their legal status as a colony. One year later after John Winthrop Jr. went to England, Charles II granted the colony’s request.
• The new document, The Royal Charter of 1662, preserved their self-government rights, but the Royal Charter superseded the Fundamental Orders.
• A number of things changed under the Charter The General Assembly went from six to twelve representatives. Only two of those men act on behalf of each town. All memebers of the bicameral General Assembly are elected by freemen. The General Assembly continued the judicial, legislative, and executive affairs. The Charter also set the boundaries of Connecticut.
• In 1687 Connecticut refused to give up the charter, when Royal Governor Edmund Andros was ordered to retrive it.
• It is rumored that the document was hidden in an oak tree, known as the Charter Oak.
• In 1693 the charter was once again threatened when England annnexed CT to New York.
• Fitz-John Winthrop was sent to England to get approval of the charter from William II.
• Once declaring Independence in 1776, Connecticut did not take on a new constitution, but rather polished the Charter that eliminated the English Crown.

This exhibit conveys the pre-revolutionary times and how it the colonies lived and fought for their government. For example, at this time Connecticut was only considered a colony and was under the British monarchy. It reminds of us of times when Connecticut along with other colonies began to act on the rights they deserve and wanted. Most importantly that was self-government and Connecticut went out and sought for it. The intended narrative of the exhibit would be gaining more knowledge about the Royal Charter and how that helped Connecticut’s government and finding more about their ties with England. Also, to get to know legendary icons who have had an effect on Connecticut’s formation as a colony to a state. This had an influence on its historical memory because it is a Connecticut based museum, the perspective an audience will get is England is the antagonist while Connecticut is the flawless protagonist. The exhibit portrays American Identity because, although small, Connecticut’s interactions with England, such as gaining the Royal Charter and sending men to England for that reason, and then later gaining independence for the Mother Country helped subsidize America as a whole to break ties with Britain and move towards Unity as an individual country. Liberty and freedom was prevelant in this exhibit.

Why was England trying to take back the Royal Charter? Did the monarchy go under new rule? Was it too close to independence?

I wish I knew more about the men and women on the wall. No description in the museum :(. I had to wikipedia them and then accidentally donated $3.

 

Harriet Beecher Stowe Center

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center is located on what would have been the wealthiest street in Connecticut in the 1850s. Living right next to Mark Twain, this is where she retired after the release of her book, Uncle Tom’s Cabin. The tour through the house mainly focuses how Stowe lived, her decorating choices, and includes a modern and interactive gallery that connects social issues in the 1850s to the present day.  Within  moments of walking into the house you are bound to learn the worldwide impact of Stowe and Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

The Harriet Beecher Stowe Center takes the perspective of opening the people’s/her reader’s eyes to the harsh realities of slavery and that enslaved people are human. The site wanted to connect social issues and the incredible impact her book had then to now. What Stowe hoped for was that her reader’s would connect or feel emotion to her characters and soon realize the connection between her characters and slaves. Keeping the focus of her influence on the war and increasing tension between the North and South, the facts and the persective the tour guide was very Northern, so in the site you see the impact of her book on the North. Besides the bias veiw the site does a good job of incorperating newspapers from the South and opposing veiws and qoutes of people who did not like her book or how the characters were portrayed in her book.

A black writer in that time did not have as much clout as a white writer had. Stowe pushed for unity and equality in her novel. Yet, some black people thought what she said and her praise should’ve came from and given to a black person. But, like today class and race affects how people acknowledge or consider your being. Stowe used both those things to fight for civil rights and be civilly disobedient. She also fought the gender norm of women just obeying their husband and not doing anything controversial.

At the site I did wonder what the opposing side looked like and wish they touched deeper into people who didn’t agree.

The tour guide breifly brought up her living next to Mark Twain and I wonder how he had an effect on her writing.