[The history of the United States of America : from the discovery of the continent to the close of the first session of the 35th Congress.]

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Preface

•••

Elaborate histories of the United States have been ably written ; compends, or school histories, and well adapted to the place they are designed to fill, are numerous. Between these compends and the worki< extending to six or more volumes, there is room, as well as necessity, for a history that shall be sufficiently elaborate to trace the direct influences that have had a power in moulding the character of the nation and its institutions, moral and poUtical — a volume that should present as fully as is consistent with this design, those events which are interesting in themselves, or characteristic of the times and people. Such a volume the author of this work has endeavored to supply. It is hoped the general reader will find in it a succinct as well as a comprehensive \dew of the subject, which of itself is worthy the study, especially of our own countrymen.

IV PREFACE.

While the author has availed himself of original authorities, he takes pleasure in acknowledging his obligations, among others, to the following works : Histories of the United States, by Bancroft, Hildreth, and Tucker ; Irving's Life of Washington ; C. W. Elliott's History of New England ; Broadhead's History of New York ; Benton's Thirty Years' View ; Abridgment of Debates in Congress, by the same author; Duyckinck's Cyclopaedia of American Literature ; Dr. Hawks' Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of the United States ; Dr. Robert Baird's Religion in America.

New Tork, September, 1859.

Chapter I. Columbus

Hu DiscoTerics, 4 Misfortunes, 5. Death, 5. Ameiigo Vespucci and the name America, 6.

CHAPTER n

ABORIGINES.

CHAPTER in

SPANISH DISCOYEIUES AND CONQUESTS.

South Sea, 11. First Voyage round the World, 11. Ponce de Leon, 12. Florida, DiscoTery and Attempt to Settle, 12. Vasquez de Ayllon, 13. Conquest of Mexico and Peru, 11.

CHAPTER IV.

ENGLISH AND FRENCH DISCOVERIES.

John Cabot discovers the American Continent, 16. His son, Sebastian, 16. Voyages of Verrazzani, 17. Voyagcsof Cartier, 18. Attempts at Settlement, 20.

CHAPTER V.

DE SOTO AND THE MiSSISSIPPI.

Lands at Tampa Bay, 23. On the Mississippi, 25. Death of De Soto, 26.

CHAPTER VL

THE REFORMATION AND ITS EFFECTS.

CHAPTER VIL

THE HUGUENOTS IN THE SOUTH.

Their Settlement destroyed, 30, 31. The Colony of St. Augustine, 32. De Gourges, 84. Settlements in New Franc«» 35. Champlain, and his Success, 36.

VI CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII.

ENGLISH ENTERPRISE.

Sir Humphrey Gilbert, 88. The Fisheries — St. John's, Newfoundland, 89. Sir Walter Raleigh, 89. Exploring Expedition — Virginia, 40. Fail ures to colonize, 41. Contest with Spain, 42. Death of Sir Walter, 43

CHAPTER IX.

THE SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA.

London and Plymouth Companies, 46. King James* Laws, 46. The Voy« age and Arrival — Jamestown, 47. John Smith; his energy, 47. llis Captivity, 49. Misery of the Colonists, 60. New Emigrants, 61. Lord Delaware, 62. Sir Thomas Gates, 68. Pocahontas; her Capture and Marriage, 64. George Yeardlcy, 65. First Legislative Assembly, 66.

CHAPTER X.

COLONIZATION OF NEW ENGLAND.

First Voyage to, 67. Explorations of John Smith, 68. The Church of England, 69. The Puritans, 60. Congregation of John Robinson, 61. Pilgrims in Holland, 62. Arrangement to emigrate, 63. The Voyage, 65. Their prominent Men, 66. A Constitution adopted, 67. Landing at Plymouth, 68. Su£ferings — Indians, 69. Weston's Men, 71. Thanksgiving, 72. Democratic Government, 73.

CHAPTER XL

COLONY OF MASSACnUSETTS BAT.

\ Company organized ; Settlement of Salem, 75. The Charter transferred, 76. Boston and Vicinity settled, 77. Roger Williams; his Banishment; he founds Providence, 78. Discussions renewed — Anne Hutchinson ; Settlement of Rhode Island, 80. The Dutch at Hartford ; Disputes with, 81. Migrations to the Connecticut ; Hooker and Haynes, 82. Pequod War, 84. Rev. John Davenport; Settlement of New Haven, 88. Sir Ferdinand Gorges ; New Hampshire, 89. The United Colonies, 90. Educated Men ; Harvard College, Printing Press, Common Schools, 91. Quakers ; Persecution of, 92. Eliot the Apostle — the Maybews, 93. Progress, 94.

CHAPTER XIL

VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND.

r^iurcry — ^Massacre by the Indians, 96. Lord Baltimore, 99. Settlement of Maryland, 100. Claybomc's Rebellion, 101. Toleration — Berkeley Governor of Virginia, Intolerance, 102. State of Society, 103. Aristocratic Assembly, 104. War with the Susquchannas — Nathaniel Bacon, 105. Disturbances, Obnoxious Assembly dissolved, 106. Jamestown burned ; Death of Bacon, 107. Tyranny of Berkeley ; Aristocratio Assembly; its Illiberal Acts, 108. Deplorable State of ths Colony, 109. College of William and Mary, 110. Troubles in Marv Umd, 111.

• •

CONTENTS. VU

CHAPTER Xin.

COLONIZATION OF MEW TORK.

Hudson^s Discoveries, 112. A Change i^rought, 118. The Fort on the Isle of Manhatun, 114. Walloons— the first Settlers— Peter Minoits, 115. The Patroons; Van T wilier Governor, 116. Eieft his Successor, 117. Difficnlties with the Indians, 118. They seek Protection; their Massacre, 119. Peace concluded, 122. Stuyvesant Governor, 128. The Swedish Settlement on the Delaware ; Pavonia, 124. New Netherlands Surrendered to England, 126. The Influence of the Dutch, 127- Settlements in Xew Jersey ; Scotch Presbyterians, 128.

CHAPTER XIV.

COLONIZATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

The Quakers, 180. William Penn ; his Education, 181. Obtains a Charter, 183. Lands at New Castle ; Philadelphia founded, 184. Rights of the Indians, 185. German Emigrants, 186. Fletcher the Royal Governor, 187. New Charter granted the People — ^Presbyterians from Ireland and ScotUnd, 138. Trials of Penn ; his Death— Benjamin Franklin, 189

CHAPTER XV.

COLONIZATION OF THE CAROLINA8.

The first Settlers, 141. Grants to Royal Favorites— The " Grand Model," 142. Settlement at Cape Fear River — Sir John Ycamans, 148. Emigrants under Sayle, 144, The Huguenots, 145. The People Independent, 146. Churchmen and Dissenters, 147. Rice — Manufiictures prohibited, 148. War — Failure to capture St. Augustine, 149. The Ruin of the Apalachees, 150. Religious Controversies, 151. Indian Wars — German Emigrants, 152. The People repudiate the Authority of the Proprietaries, 155.

CHAPTER XVI.

COLONIZATION OF GEORQIA.

Founded in Benevolence — Oglethorpe, 156. First Emigration, 167. Savannah— Encouragements, 158. Germans from the Western Alps, 159. The Moravians— Scotch Highlanders, 161. The Wesleys — Whitefield; his Orphan House, 162. War with Spain ; its Cause, 163. Failure to capture St. Augustine, 164. Repulse of the Spanish Invaders, 165. The Colony becomes a Royal Province, 166.

CHAPTER XVII.

The Restoration, 167. The Commissioners — Progress of Trade, 168. Causes of King Philip's War, 169. Death of Wamsutta, 170. SUte of the Colony — Attack at Swanzey, 171. Philip among the Nipmucks, 172. Attacks on Korthfield— on Hadley, Goflfe, 173. Tragedy at Bloody Brook — The Narraganset Fort destroyed, 174. Philip returns to Mount Hope to die, 175. Disasters of the War, 176. James II. — his Intolerance, 177. The Charters in danger — Andros Governor — his Illegal Measures, 178. Charter of Rhode Island taken away — Andros at Hartford, 179. Andros in Jail; the Charters resumed, 180. The Men of influence, 181.

• ••

VIU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIII.

COMMOTION IN NEW YOBK — WITCHCRAFT IN MASSACHUSETTS.

Leislor acting Goveraor of New York, 182, The Old Council refuses to yield — Sloughter Governor, 183. Trial and Execution of Leisler and Melbourne, 184. Benjamin Fletcher, Governor ; his failure at Hartford, 185. Yale College, 186. The Triumph of a Free Press, 187. Witchcraft ; belief in, 188. Cotton Mather, 189. Various Persons accused at Salem, 190. Stoughton as Judge, and Parris as Accuser, 191. Minister Burroughs, 192. Calcfs Pamphlet, 193. Mather^s stand in favor of Inoculation, 194.

CHAPTER XIX.

MISSIONS AND SETTLEMENTS IN NEW FRANCE

The Emigrants, 196. The Jesuits; their zeal as Teachers and Explorers, 197. The Chief Ahasistari, 198. The Five Nations, or Iroquois, 19y. Father Jogues, 200. The Abenakis ; Dreuilcttcs, 201. French Settlers at Oswego — Father AUouez, 202. James Marquette — ^The Mississippi, 203. La Salle, 204. His Enterprise ; his Failure and Tragical End, 206.

CHAPTER XX.

MARAUDING EXPEDITIONS; SETTLEMENT OF LOUISIANA; CAPTURE OK

LOUISBURO.

Mohawks hostile to the French, 208. Dover attacked ; Major Waldron, 209. Schenectady burned — the inhuman Frontenac, 210. The Colonists act for themselves — ^Invasion of Canada, 211. Heroism of Hannah Dustiu, 212. Deerfield taken; Eunice "Williams, 213. D'Ibbervillo plants a Colony on the Pascagoula, 215. Trading Posts on the Illinois and the Mississippi, 216. The Choctaws, 217. Destruction of the Natchez, 218. Attempts to subdue the Chickasaws, 219. King George's War ; Capture of Louisburg, 220. The English Ministry alarmed, 222. Jonathan Edwards— The " Great Revival," 223. Princeton College, 224.

CHAPTER XXI.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

The Valley of the Ohio— French and English Claimants, 225. Gist, the Pioneer, 226. George Washington, 227. His Character — His Mission to the French on the Alleghany, 229. St. Pierre's Letter unsatisfactory, 231. Fort du Quesnc built — Washington sent to defend the Frontiers, 232. The first Conflict of the War— Fort Necessity, 233. British Troops arrive in America, 234. Plan of Operations — General Braddock, 235. The Army on the March— Captain Jack, 236. The Battle of Monongahela, 238. Death and Burial of Braddock, 240. Dunbar's Panic— The Effects of these Events, 241.

CHAPTER XXII.

FRENCn AND INDIAN WAR — CONTINUED.

The French Acadiens — Their Industry and good Morals, 24S. Their Mournful Exile, 246. Expedition against Crown Point, 248. Th«

C0KTEKT8. U

Eoglisb defeated— Death of Cobnel Williams, 249. Aepulse of the French — ^Death of Dieskau — ^Williams College, 250. Kittaning destroy* ed, 251. MonteakA acte with Energy, 258. Fort William Henry takeo, 254. Canada Exhaosted, 255.

CHAPTER XXIU.

rRENCH AKD INDIAN WAR— -CONTINUED.

William Pitt, Prime Minister, 256. Lord Amherst — ^PUn of Operation»^ Louisburg captured, 257. English repulsed — ^Fort Frontcnac captured^ 258. Washington takes Possession of Fort Du Quesne, 259. Pittsburg, 260. The French abandon Ticonderoga, 261. Wolfe before Quebec, 262. The Battle on the Heights of Abraham, 264. Deaths of Wolf and Montcalm — their Memories, 265. Quebec Capitulates— Cherokee War, 266. Destruction of their Crops and Villages, 268. Pontiac, 269. Desolations along the Frontiers, 270. General Bouquet, 271. Pontiac's Death, 272.

CHAPTER XXIV.

CHARACTEBISnCS QT THE COLONISTS^

Reli^oua Influences among the early Settlers, 273. Love of domestic Life, 274. Laws enjoining Morality, 275. Systems of Education ; Common Schools, 276. Free Inquiry and Civil Liberty, 277. John Calvin— The Anglo-Saxon Element; the Norman, 278. The Soutl^crner; the Korthemer — Influences in Pennsylvania, 279. In New York — Diversity of Ancestry, 280.

« CHAPTER XXV.

CAUSES THAT LED TO THE REVOLUTION.

Restrictions of Trade and Manufactures^ — Ta^cs imposed by Parliament, 28'2. Writs of Assistance, 283. James Otis — Samuel Adams, 284. The "Parsons'" Case in Virginia — ^Patrick Henry, 285. Colonel Barrels Speech — The Stamp Act, 287. Excitement in the Colonies — Resolutions not to use Stamps, 289. ** Sons of Liberty," 290. A Call for a Congress ; it Meets, 291. Self-denial of the Colonists — Pitt dc fends them, 292. Stamp Act repealed — Rejoicings, 293. Dartmouth College, 204.

CHAPTER XXVI.

CAUSES THAT LED TO THE REVOLUTION — CONTINUED.

The English Ministry determine to obtain a Revenue, 295. Massachusetts invites to harmonious Action, 296. The Sloop Liberty — A British Regiment at Boston, 297. Collision with the Citizens — Articles of Association proposed by Washington, 298. Tax upon Tca» 299. The Gaspe captured, 3iX). The Resolutions not to receive the Tea, 301. Tea thrown into Boston Harbor — Its Reception at other Places, 303. Boston Port Bill— Aid sent to Boston, 804. Gage's Difficulties, 805. Alexander Hamilton, 306. The Old Continental Congress — The first Prayer, 307. The Papers issued by the Congress, 3o9. Views of Pitt in relation to them, 310.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Spirit of the people, 811. They seise Quns and Ammumtion, 312. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress; its Measures, 813. The Re« straining Bill, 814. Conflicts at Lexington and Concord, 815. Vol. unteers fly to Arms, and beleaguer Boston — Stark — ^Putnam, 817. Benedict Arnold — ^Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys, 818- Capture of Ticonderoga, 819. Lord Dunmore in Virginia — ^Henry and the Independent Compaiiies, 820. The News from Lexington rouses a Spirit of Resistance, 821. The Second Continental Congress, 823. Its Measures, 824. Adopts the Army before Boston, and appoints Washington Commander-in-Chief, 825.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

THE WAR OF THE RETOLUTION.

Battle of Bunker Hill, 828. Death of Warren— Generals Charles Lee and PhiUp Schuyler, 838. State of Affkirs in New York— Sir WilUam Johnson, 834. Condition of the Army, 385. Nathaniel Greene — Morgan and his Riflemen, 836. Wants of the Army, 837. Expedition against Canada, 888. Richard Montgomery — Allen*s rash Adventure, 839. Montreal captured — Arnold's toilsome March to Quebec, 840. That Place besieged, 841. Failure to Storm the Town — ^Death of Montgomery, 842. Arnold in his Icy Fortress, 848.

CHAPTER XXIX.

WAR OP THE REVOLUTION — CONTINnED.

Meeting of Congress — Alarming Evils, 844. Portland burned — ^Efforts to defend the Coast, 345. Parliament resolves to crush the Rebels, 346. Henry Knox, 847. Difficulties in the Army — Provincial Prejudices,

848. Success of the Privateers— British Theatricals— The Union Flag,

849. Affaurs in New York — Rivington's Gazette, 850. Governor Tryon — General Lee in the City, 851. Dunmore^s Measures — ^Norfolk burned, 852. Defeat of North Carolina Tories, 853. Cannon and Powder obtained, 855. Dorchester Heights fortified — ^Boston evacuated, 856. Washington in New York, 857. Numerous Disasters — Retreat from Canada, 859. Horatio Gates, 860. A British Fleet before Fort Moultrie, 861. Gloomy Prospects, 862.

CHAPTER XXX.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION —CONTINUED.

The Question of Independence ; Influences in favor of, 864. The Tories — Common Sense, 866. The Declaration ; its Reception by the People and Army, 868. Arrival of Admiral Howe, 869. His Overtures for Reconciliation, 870. -The American Army ; its Composition, Sectional Jealousies, 871. The Clintons, 872. BatUe of Long Island, 878. The Masteriy Retreat, 876. Incidents, 877. Howe confers with a Committee of Congress, 878. Nathan Hale, 879. The British at Kipp*a Bay, 880. New York evacuated, 881. Conflict at White Plains, 382. I^ois of Fort Washington, 884. Retreat across New Jersey, 885. Waywardness of Lee, 886.

CONTENTS. 21

CHAPTER XXXI.

WAR OF THE RXTOLUTION— CONTINUED.

Diflcouragements — Howe^s Proclamation, 88*7. Affairs on Lake Champlain, 888. Heroism of Arnold, 889. Capture of Leo, 890. Battle ot Trenton, 892. Battle of Princeton, 898. Death of Mercer, 899. Washington returns to Morristown, 400. Comwallis in his lines at Brunswick, 401. Putnam at Princeton, 402. Ill treatment of Ameri can Prisoners, 403. Appointment of General Officers, Muhlenburg, Wayne, Conway — ^Medical Department, 404. The Navj, 405. Expeditions— Peekskill — Danbury, 406. Death of Wooster — ^fiiietaliaUon at Sag Harbor, 407. Schuyler and Gates, 408. The National flag, 409.

CHAPTER XXXII.

WAR or THE RETOLUTIOX — CONTIXUKD.

The Struggle excites an Interest in England and France, 410. PriTateers fitted out in France, 411. Munitions of War, 412. Howe^s Manoeu- Tres, 413. Bnrgoyne on his Way from Canada, 414. Ticonderoga captured, 415. St. Clair*8 Retreat, 416. Capture of General Prescott — ^The secret Expedition — The American Army at Germantown, 417. Lafayette, 418. Pulaski and Kosciusko, 419. Aid sent to Schuyler — Howe lands at Elkton, 420. Battle of Brandy wine, 421. Possession taken of Philadelphia — ^Battle of Germantown, 424. Hessians repulsed at Fort Mercer, 426. Winter Quarters at Valley Forge, 427.

CHAPTER XXXin.

WAR OP THE RETOLCTION — CONTIXCED.

Invasion from Canada — Appointment of General Gates, 428. Jenny McCrea, 429. St. Leger besieges Fort Stanwix, 430. The Attempt to relieve it, 431. Battle of Bennington, 432. Change of Prospects, 433. Battle of Behmus^s Heights, 434. Ticonderoga besieged, 435. Burgoyne surrenders his Army at Saratoga, 436. The Prisoners- Capture of Forts on the Hudson, 438. Schuyler, 439.

CHAPTER XXXn\

WAR or THE REVOLUTION — CONTINUKD

Sufferings at Valley Forge, 440. England disappointed — Conciliatory Measures of Parliament, 441. The War presses hard upon the American People, 442. Difficulties in Congress, 443. The '* Conway Cabal," 444. Baron Steuben, 446. Attempt to increase the Army, 447 Exchange of Lee; his Treason, 448. Treaty with France — ^British Commissioners, 449. Battle of Monmouth, 450. Misconduct of Lee, 451. His death, 452. Combined attack upon Newport fails, 453. Massacre at Wvoming — at Cherry Vallev, 454. Invasion of Georgia, 456.

CHAPTER XXXV.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION — CONTINUED.

Diisensions in Congress, 457. Expedition against the Indians, 458. The War in the South, 459. Marauding Expeditions sent to Virginia, and ru CONTENTS.

up the IIudsoD — Tryon ravages Connecticut, 460. Wayne captures Stony Point, 4C1. Lee surprises the Garrison at Jersey Citj-~Coinbined assault upon Savannah, 462. Daniel Boone, 468. George Rogers Clarke; Kaskaskia — ^Pioneers of Tennessee; Nashville, 464. John Paul Jones, 40o.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION — CONTINUED.

aardships of the Soldiers, 46C. British Success at the South, 467. Colonel Tarleton, 468. Charleston capitulates — ^Defeat at Waxhaws, 469. Rev. James Caldwell, 470. Maraud into Jersey, 471. French Fleet at Newport — The Partisan Loaders in the South, 472. Gates in Command — Disastrous Battle of Camden, 474. Death of De Kalb, 475. Sumter's Success and Defeat, 476. The Treason of Arnold — ^Mojor Andr^, 477. Movements of Cornwallis, 479. Colonel Ferguson — ^The Battle of King's Mountain, 480. Tarleton repulsed, 482. Greene in Command — Briti)>h triumphant in the South — Affairs in Europe, 483. Henry Laurens — Dangers of England ; her Energy, 484.

CHAPTER XXXVIL

WJLR OF THE REVOLUTION — CONTINUED.

The Spirit of Revolt araonjij the Soldiers, 486. Arnold ravages the Shores of the Chcsapoake, 488. Battle of the Cowpens, 489. Morgan retreats; Cornwallis pursues, 491. Greene marches South — Lee scatters the Tories, 4l»3. Battle of Guildford Court House, 494. ConOict at Hobkirk's IlUl, 495. The Execution of Hayne, 496. Battle of EuUw Springs, 497. Plans to capture New York, 498. Wayne's Daring at James River, 409. National Finances — Robert Morris, 600. Clinton deceived — Combined Armies beyond the Delaware, 601. French Flee* in the Chesapeake, 5u*2. New London burned by Arnold, 603. The Attack, 604. Cornuallis Surrenders, 606. Thanksgivings, 606.

CHAPTER XXXVm.

CLOSING EVENTS OF THE WAR — FORMATION OF THE CONSTITUTION.

British Efforts Paraly/cd, 508. The States form Independent Governments— Indian Warn, 5n9. Massacre of the Christian Delawares — Battle of the Blue Lick, 510. Lord North — Commissioners of Peace, 611. Peace concluded — Dissatisfaction in the American Army, 512. The "Anonymous Address," 513. British Prisoners; the Tories, 614. Disbandment of the Army — Washington takes leave of his Officers, 615. Resigns his Commission, 516. Shay^s Rebellion, 618. Interests of the States clash, 519. Tiie Constitutional Convention, 620. The Constitution— its Ratification, 5*21. The Territory North-west of the Ohio, 622. Ecclesiastical Organizations, 623.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Wa.SHINOTON's ADMINISTRATION.

Reception and Inauguration of the President, 628. An Era in human Progress, 629. The Dopartmenta of State organized, 630. Hamilton's Financial Ri'port, 531. Congress Assumes the Debts of the Nation— ^National Bank, .'>32. Commercial Enterprise — Manufactures, 638. Indian War, 634. St. Clair defeated, 686. Wavno defcaU the In-

CONTENTS. XUi

ditiifl, 536. Political Porties-^effersoD, 58*7. The French Rerolation, 688. Genet arrives as French Minister — Neutrality proclaimed by the Fteadent — ^Democratic Bodetiee, 5«i9. The Partisans of France — ^Recall of Genet, 640. The first Settlers of Western Pennsylvania, 541. The Whiftkey Insurrection^ 542. Special Mission to Great Britain, 548. A Treaty concluded, 544. Other Treaties, 545. Washington's Farewell Address, 546.

CHAPTER XL.

JOHN ADAMSES ADMINISTRATION'.

Serious Aspect of Relations with France, 547. Commissioners of Peace, 548. The French Cruisers, 549. The Alien Act— War impending, 550. Washington Commander-in-Chief— Capture of the Frigate Linsurgente, 551. Peace concluded — Death of Washington, 552. Eulogiums on his Character, 558. The city of Washington becomes the Seat of Government, 554.

CHAPTER XLL

jeffsrson's administration.

The President's Inaugural, 555. Purchase of Louisiana, 556. Pirates in the Mediterranean, 557. Burning of the Philadelphia, 558. Tripoli Bombarded, 559. Death of Hamilton, 560. Aaron Burr, 561. Opposition to the Navy— Gunboats, 562. The Rights of Neutrals — ^The unjust Decrees Issued by Englimd and France, 563. Impressment of American Seamen, 564. Treaty with England rejected by the President— Affair of the Chesapeake, 566. The Embargo ; its' effect, 568. Manufactures, 569. The Embargo repealed, 570.

CHAPTER XLIL

Madison's administration.

Condition of the Country — Erskine's Negotiations, f>71. Depredations upon American Commerce — ^The Rambouillet Decree, 573. Affair of the Little Belt, 674. The Census — Indian Troubles — Tecumseh and the Prophet, 675. Battle of Tippecanoe, 577. The two Parties— The Twelfth Congress — Henry Clay — John C. Calhoun, 678. Threatening Aspect of Foreign Relations, 679. Debates in Congress — John Randolph, 680. Another Embargo, 683. War declared against Great Britain, 684. The Academy at West Point, 585. Riots at Baltimore, 5S6. Operations in the North-west, 687. Surrender of Hull, 588. Impressment of American Seamen, 588. American Ships in English Ports, 589. Failures to invade Canada, 690.

CHAPTER XLIII.

MADISON*S administration — COSTINCED.

Vessels of the Navy, 693. The chase of the Constitution — Capture of the Alert, 694. the Guerricre — Incidents, 595. Tlie ^facedonian — ^The Frolic— The Java, 596. The effects of these Naval Conflicts in the United States and England, 697. Plan of Operations — Harrison advances on Detroit, 599. General Winchester a Prisoner; Indian Barbarities— The Kcntuckians fall into an Ambuscade, 600. Repulse at

XIV CONTENTS.

Fort Stephenflon — The loss of the Chesapeake, 601. Perry's Yictory. 602. Battle of the Thames — ^Andrew Jackson, 608. Leads an Expe dition; its Termination, 605. York captured; Death of General mke 506. Failures, 607. Newark burned ; the severe Retaliation, 608 RaTages on Shores of the Chesapeake — ^Indian War in the South, 609 Jackson and others in the Field — ^Battle of the Great Horse Shoe, 610 Captain Porter's Cruise, 611.

CHAPTER XLTV,

Madison's administration — continued.

The Thirteenth Congress; its Members — Daniel Webster, 613. Manifesto of the British GoTernment, 614. Embarrassments — Commissioners of Peace, 615. Jacob Brown — ^Winfield Scott — Wilkinson unsuccessful, 61Y. Battle of Lundy's Lane, 618. Battle on Lake Champlain, 621. The British on the Shores of the Chesapeake, 623. Bladcnsburg, 625. Capture of Washington — Public Buildings burned, 626. Defence of Fort McHenry — ^Death of General Ross, 627. Bombardment of Stonington — Distress in New England, 628. Debates in Congress, 629. Hartford Convention, 630.

CHAPTER XLV.

Madison's administration — concluded.

Jackson enters Pcnsacola, 638. New Orleans defenceless — ^The British land, 684. Jackson's Measures of Defence, 685. Battle of New Or* leans, 636. The Distress of the Country— The Relief; 688. Treaty of Peace, 689. Frigate President captured, 640. War with Algiers, 641. Treaty with the Indians — National Bank — State of Lidiana, 642. John Fitch— Robert Fulton— First Steamboat, 643.

CHAPTER XLVL

Monroe's administration.

A Return to the earlier Policy of the Government, 644. The President's Tour in the Eastern States — ^The Colonization Society, 645. Revolutions in the Spanish Colonies — ^Indian War, 646. General Jackson in the Field — ^Purchase of Florida, 647. The Missouri Compromise, 648. The Monroe Doctrine — ^Financial Distress, 652. Increase of Tariff-* Visit of Lafayette, 663.

CHAPTER XLVn.

JOHN QUINCT ADAMS' ADMINISTRATION.

Manufactures and Internal Improvements, 655. Indian Lands in Geor* gia, 656. Death of the ez-Presidents Thomas Jefferson and Johii Adams, 657. Free Masonry — Protection tQ American Industry, 658. Debates in Congress — Presidential Contest, 660.

CHAPTER XLVm.

Jackson's administration.

Appointments to Office, 661. Removal of the Indians from Georgia, 662. Bank of the United States, 668. Hayno and Webster's Debate— Nulli-

I

V

OOKTEKTS. XV

fication, 664. Tbe Compromise Bill ; iia final Panage, 667. RemoTal of the Depodts, 668. Effect upon the Country— Indian Wars, 669. Osceola — Death of Judge Marshall, 670. Indemnity for French Soolia* tions, 671.

CHAPTER XUX.

TAX BUREM*8 ADMIKISTftATION.

Apparent Prosperity, 678. The Specie Circular — ^Distribution of the Sur* plus Funds— SpecuUtion, 674. The Sub-Treasury, 675. State Indebtedness, 676.

CHAPTER L.

The Inauguration, 677. Death of Harrison ; Tyler President, 678. Bankrupt Law— The Bank Charters; their Vetoes, 679. Proposition to treat with Oreat Britain — Insurrection in Canada— The Caroline, 680. Trial of McLeod, 681. Boundary Disputes in Mame— Treaty of Washington, 682. Questions of Visit and Impressment, 688. Exploring Expedition, 684. Texas Colonization; Struggles, 685. Siege of the Alamo, 686. Davy Crockett — Goliad, Siege m—Massacre of Prisoners, 687. Battle of &ui Jacinto, 688. Houston President — Question of Annexation in Congress, 689. Texas Annexed — ^Disturbances in Rhode Island, 691. Iowa and Florida become States, 692.

CHAPTER LL

POLK*S ADIIIMISTBATION. \

Difficulties with Mexico, 694. General Taylor at Corpus Christi, 695. Oregon Territory ; respective Claims to, 696. Settlement of Boundary,

698. Taylor marches to the Rio Grande — ^Thornton's Party surprised,

699. Atteck on Fort Brown, 700. Battle of Palo Alto, 701. Battle of Resaca de la Palma, 702. Matamoras occupied — Measures of Congress, 704. The Volunteers — Plan of Operations — ^Mexico declares War, 705. Capture of Monterey, 707.

CHAPTER LII.

POLKAS ADMINISTRATION — CONTINUED.

Ihe President hopes for Peace — Santa Anna, 710. Hostilities to be renewed, 712. Troops withdrawn from General Taylor — ^Volunteers arrive at Monterey, 718. Santa Anna's Plans and Preparations, 714. Taylor advances to Agua N'ueva, 715. Battle of Buena Vista, 716. The Mexican Chiefs Urrca and Romero.

CHAPTER LIII

folk's ADMINISTRATION — CONTINUED.

Emigration to Oregon, 732. John C. Fremont; his Explorations, 733. Difficulties with the Mexican Governor, 735. American Settlers in alarm, 736. California free — ^Monterey on the Pacific captured, 737. —Commodores Sloat and Stockton— Expedition of Kearney, 738. Santa F6 taken; a Government organixed, 739. Doniphan's Expcdiv a

XVI CONTENXa

tion, 740. £1 Paso taken, 742. Chihuahua occupied, 743. An insorrection ; its Suppression, 744. Trial of Fremont, 745.

CHAPTER LIV.

folk's adxixistbatiox— <;oxcluded.

MoTcmcnt of Troops, 746. Vera Cruz invested, 747. Its Bombardment and Capitulation, 748. Santa Annans Energy, 749. Battle of Cerro Gordo, 750. General Scott at Puebia — Ilis Misunderstandines with the Authorities at Washington, 751. N. P. Trist, Commissioner, 752. Dissensions in Mexico, 754. Scott's Manifesto, 755. Advance upon the Capital, 756. Battle of Contreras, 757. Of Churubusco, 75S. Attempts to obtain Peace, 760. Conflict of Molino del Rev, 701. The Castle of Chapultepec captured, 762. The American Army enters the City, 763. Santa Anna again in the Field, 764. Treaty of Peace, 765. Misunderstandings among the American Officers, 766. Conditions of the Peace— Discovery of Gold in California, 767. The Effects— Deatk of John Quincy Adams, 708. Wilmot Proviso, 769. The Presidential Election— Death of Mr. Polk, 770.

CHAPTER LV.

TAYLOR AND riLLXORE^S ADXINISTRATIOK.

Discussion on Slavery — ^Wilmot Proviso, 772. The Powers of the Constitution ; their Application in the Territories, 774. The President's Message ; its Recommendations, 776. Debate on the Omnibus Bill, 777. Death of Calhoun — ^Death of President Taylor — Fillmore Inaugurated, 778. The Fugitive Slave Law, 7'J9. The Mormons ; their Origin, 780. Troubles— Settlement in Utah, 781. A Disunion Convention, 781. Lopez invades Cuba, 782. Search for Sir John Franklin — Dr. E. K. Kane, 783. Death of Henry Clay; of Daniel Webster, 784. The Tripartite Treaty, 784.

CHAPTER LVL

FIKRCE^S ADMINISTRATION.

Purchase of the Mesilla Valley, 786. Trcatv with Japan, 787. The Kan sas-Nebroska Bill; the effects of the Measure, 788. Emigrants t€ Kansas, 789. Struggles and Conflicts, 790. James Buchanan, President, (92. The Contest continues in Kansas, 798. Platforms of Political Parties, 796. Abraham Lincoln elected President — Secession, 797. Mojoi Robert Anderson — ^Peace Congress, 798. Inauguration of President Linooln, 799. National Progress — Internal Commerce, 801. Public Schools —The Press, 803. Public Libraries— Art, 804. Liberty of Conscience- Individual Responsibility, 805.

HISTORY

OF THX

UNITED STATES.

CHAPTER I.

COLUMBUS.

Ok Discoveries, Misfortunes, and Death. — ^Amerigo Yespucci, and the name

America.

Fob nearly fifteen hundred years after the birth of our chap Saviour, the great Western Continent was unknown to ' the inhabitants of the Old World. 1492.

The people of Europe had looked upon the Atlantic Ocean as a boundless expanse of water, surrounding the land and stretching far away they knew not whither. This vast unknown, their imaginations had peopled with all sorts of terrible monsters, ever ready to devour those who should rashly venture among them. But the cloifl of mystery and superstition that hung over this world of waters wa? now to be dispelled — a spirit of discovery was awakened in Europe.

The Azores and Madeira Isles were already known.

Mariners, driven out by adverse winds, had discovered

them. Tradition told of islands still farther west, but as

yet no one had gone in search of them. The attention of

the people of maritime Europe was turned in the opposite

direction ; they wished to find a passage by water to the

eastern coasts of Asia. The stories told by those early

CHAP, travellers, Sir John Mandeville and Marco Polo, hatl ' fired their imaginations ; they believed that among those 1492. distant regions of which they wrote, so abundant in precious stones, diamonds, and gold, was the veritable land of Ophir itself. Their intense desire to obtain the treasures of India, led to a result most important in the world's history — a result little anticipated, but which was to have a never-ending influence upon the destinies of the human family — the discovery of America.

As God had ordered, there appeared at this time a remarkable man ; a man whose perseverance, no less than his genius, commands our respect. He was a native of Genoa, one of the great commercial cities of Italy. He had been from his childhood familiar with the sea, and had visited the most distant portions of the world then known. His time and talents were devoted to the studv of navigation, geography, and astronomy. He began to astonish his countrymen with strange notions about the world. He boldly asserted that it was round, instead ot flat ; that it went around the sun instead of the sun going around it ; and moreover, that day and night were caused by its revolution on its axis. These doctrines the priests denounced as contrary to those of the church. He could not convince these learned gentlemen by his arguments, neither could they silence him by their ridicule. When he ventured to assert that by sailing west, he could reach the East Indies, these philosophers questioned not only the soundness of his theory, but that of his intellect. For years he labored to obtain the means to explore the great western ocean, to prove that it was the pathway to the coveted treasures of the East. This remarkable man was Christopher Columbus.