Woodbury High School - Warrior Yearbook (Woodbury, CT)

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Valedictory Essay CONNECTICUT 1C Ruth Mary Hine This year we are celebrating the three hundredth anniversary of the ftunding of Connecticut. Connecticut is one of the thirteen original colonies and although it is a very small state, it has played a very active part in the history of our nation and of the world. When a man celebrates his birthday, he looks back over his life to see what he has accomplished, sc let us look back over the history of Connecticut. Connecticut was founded in 1635 by some Puritans who were dissatisfied with the government of Massachusetts. They wanted freedom of wc rship and as they were not allowed to voto because they were unwilling to belong to the state church, they decided to fcund a colony where they could worship as they pleased and still take part in the government. The settlers of Connecticut found many obstacles in their way but these obstacles were successfully overcome and the colony soon occupied a position of influence in the country. In 1639, the people of Connecticut adopted a constitution which was the first written constitution in America. 'When the Constitution of the United States was drawn up, the Constitution of Connecticut was used as a model. Connecticut was therefore given the nemo of tho Constitution State. During the Revolutionary War Connecticut gained the name of Prevision State bocauso her people generously gave both troops and supplies without which the war might have had a less favorable outcome. Connecticut was dubbed the Nutmeg State because some of her scheming traders made wooden nutmegs and sold them at a great profit. Connecticut has long been noted for its educational institutions. Tho first law sohool in America was established in Litchfield, Connecticut Yale University,in New Haven, was the second college founded in what is new tho United States and the sens of Eli have made it famous throughout the world. Early in the history of Connecticut, pecplo cf other colonies bogan to send their ohildren here for an education. Many leading politicians and statesmen received thoir diplomas from our lav sohccls. This early interest in education has continued and at tho present time the publio school system cf cur state is considered superior to that of most states, had Connecticut is the birthplace of many famous men. It has. more inventors according to its population than any other state. Some of the Connecticut inventors wore: Eli Whitnoy, the inventor cf the cotton gin; Charles Goodyear, who developed a process for vulcanizing rubber; Samuel Celt, tho inventor of the revolver; Eli Terry, cf mantel clock fame and Wheeler and Wilson, who gave the public an' improved seWing machine. Duvid Bushnoll, v ho was born in Litchfield, Connecticut, made tho first submarine to be used In v arfare. This submarine v as used in the 5evolutionary War. About tho tirao of the Revolutionary War, the pecplo of Connecticut decided that guns with interchangeable parte would be very advantageous. They believod that it would be less expensive to repair tho old guns than tc build now ones. The idea was a great success and all kinds of machines and conveyances were made v ith standard parts. At the present time,almost everything used is standardized so that the worn parts may be removed and replaced by now ones. Connecticut is still the center of this branch cf industry.

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i.l Manufacturing has always been the chief industry of the state and many of these industries date from colonial times. In the early part of the eighteenth century, hats v ere manufactured here in such quantities that the London merchants complained that imports from Connecticut were ruining their trade. Clocks and watches began to be made about 1773 and 20 years later the manufacture of timepieces had become a thriving industry. At the present time the largest clockworks in the world are located in Waterbury, Connecticut. The brass industry in Connecticut dates from 1802, when the manufacture of brass buttons was begun and today the largest brass factory in the world is located in Waterbury, Connecticut. Connecticut also leads all the other states in the manufacture of silver plate. The iron mines of Connecticut are of great historic interest for from them came much of the iron which was converted into cannon bulls, camp kettles, and other articles used in the Revolutionary War by the American Forces. The anchor of the famous Old Ironsides was made in Connecticut from native ore. As we look back ovor the history of Connecticut, we see traces of the well known Yankee ingenuity . It was necessary for the people of Connecticut to be thrifty and progressive for they had few resources and tho land was far from perfect. They made a little go a long way and used what they had to the greatest advantage. Our ancestors helped to make Connecticut one of the most influential of the states. Lot us, the present inhabitants of Connecticut, carry on tho groat work which they began so many years ago. SALUTATORY ESSAY ----------- WORLD ECONOMICS Charles Martin Sharp The simplest definition of Economics is, How man gets his living ; thereforet World Economics implies how the people of the world gain their living. In studying this subject, the following factors must be dealt with; 1) people, 2) government, and 3) natural resources. We also deal with the interdependence of nations and the interdependence of business. We know that nations such as the United States and Great Britain are world powers, while Brazil and other South-Central American countries are of lesser importance. How many people who have not studied the subject can tell why? Why is Great Britain a first rate power with an area less than that of Wyoming while Brazil, with an area slightly larger than that of the United States, is of so much less importance? These questions may largely bo answered by considering the above named factors; namely— people, government, and natural resources. Of course no nation has a surplus of all these factors, but the great nations usually are stronger in one to make up for any weakness in another. Great Britain serves as an excellent example of how these factors work. The British are wide awake, ambitious, and smart. They know how to take advantage of every break that comes their way. They have taken advantage of their location as well as their resources. They have educated their children so that the younger generation can take the place of the older as the older ones die. Their inventive genius has brought them and the world fine toxtile machinery and the steam engine.