Thomas Hooker
A Puritan colonial leader, who founded the Colony of Connecticut
Real World Example
Thomas Hooker was a Puritan colonial leader who played a key role in founding the Colony of Connecticut in the early 1600s. He is best known for helping to establish the Fundamental Orders of 1639, which is considered one of the first written constitutions that created a government based on the consent of the governed. At the time, his actions were important because they promoted democratic principles and the idea of self-governance, influencing the development of political systems in the other colonies. Today, Hooker's legacy can be seen in the democratic values that underpin the United States government, such as the emphasis on voting and representation. For example, when people vote in local or national elections, they are participating in a democratic process that Thomas Hooker helped to inspire centuries ago.