While the origin of this title is uncertain, the name is assumed to refer to the Fundamental Orders of 1638–39.
These Fundamental Orders formed the original constitution that was adopted by representatives of the towns of Windsor, Hartford and Wethersfield in 1639. This followed a sermon, given by the Reverend Thomas Hooker, which proclaimed that "the foundation of authority is laid in the free consent of the people".
The Fundamental Orders represented the framework for the first formal government to be written by a representative body in Connecticut.
ECONOMY
The economic history of colonial connecticut is default with in general works on New England such as William B. Weedens classic Economic and Social History of New England 1620-1789 (Boston : Houghton, Miffin and Co., 1894), two vols which is full of data but does not provide much analysis or geeralization. Percy Wells Bidwell and John I. Falconer's history of Aricultrue in the Nourthern United State 1620-1860 (Washington D.C. 1925) is also very useful. A modern study--reliable, schoarly, and up to date is Edwin J. perkins, The Economy of Colonial America (new York; columbia University Press, 1980)
