Why is Connecticut called the charter oak state?

The Charter Oak State nickname comes from the Charter Oak tree that played a significant role in Connecticut history. According to legend, the Connecticut General Assembly had hidden the colony’s Royal Charter in the hollow trunk of a white oak tree during the reign of King James II in 1687, to prevent it from being seized by the king's representative, Sir Edmund Andros. The charter guaranteed the colonists certain rights and privileges, and its preservation was seen as a symbol of the colony's autonomy and defiance against the king's authority. The original charter oak tree stood until 1856 when it was blown over by a storm. A living sprout of the original Charter Oak tree still stands on the grounds of the Connecticut State Capitol in Hartford, Connecticut.