What was the Charter Oak Affair of 1685?

The Charter Oak Affair of 1685 involved the controversial seizure of the Connecticut colony's charter by the royal governor, Sir Edmund Andros. The charter, which granted self-governance to Connecticut, was hidden in a hollow oak tree by a group of colonial leaders, including Captain Joseph Wadsworth, to prevent Andros from taking it. This act of defiance became a symbol of colonial resistance against British authority. The incident is commemorated in Connecticut's history as a significant moment in the struggle for self-governance.