Home school of American history; embracing the growth and achievements of our country from the earliest days of discovery and settlement to the present eventful year ...

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Gopyri^ht N".

Table Of Contents

CIIAETER I.

The Visits .,f lli(> Northmen to the New World— Tlie Tn<Hans :uk1 M.)un.l IJuiKlers— Cliristopher Columbus— Ilis Discovery of Ameriea— Amerigo Vespueci— John Cabot— <SVa»M Kcplonrs—Balboa-IIis Discovery of the Paeiao-JIagfUai.-ronce ,le T.eon-De Narva,-z-De Soto-Mencndcz— Pre II eh &pA))y/-s— Verrazzani— Cartier— Uibault— Laudonniere— Cliaiiiplaiii— La Salle —KiKjlhh J<:xj,h,nrs—i<\r Hugh Willoughby— IMartin l''robisher— Sir Humphrey Gilbert— Sir Walter Ualeigh— 'I'hc Lost Colony— />»/t:/(. AV/<?o/rj— Henry Hudsou 33

Chapter II. Setxlhmeni^ Ok The Thirteen Original

STATES.

FTrsrmia,- Founding of Jamestown- Captain John Smith— Introduction of African Slavery— Indian War's— Bacon's llebellion— Forms of Government— Prosperity— Education— iVero Evglaml,— Plymouth— Massachusetts Bay Colony— Union of the Colonies— Religious Persecution— King Philip's War— 'l"ho Witchcraft Delusion— A'cw lLimp!ih!re, — Thc Connecticut Colony,— The New ILiren Colony, — Uwwn of the Colonies— Indian Wars— The Charter Oak— ff/wJe Island, —Different Forms of Government— A'fio I o/'A", —The Dutch and English Settlers- A^cmj Jersey, —Delaware,— rcnns!jloania—Manjhnd,—Mas,on and Dixon's Line— TVic CaroUnas,— Georgia 47

Chapter III. Tiiic Intercolonial Wars And The Krench And Indian War

King Williams War— Qmcn Amirs War— King George's War— The French and Indian War- 1<:ngland and France ILivals in the (Jld World and tlvc New— The Early French Settlements— The Disputed Territory— France's Fatal Weakness— AVashington's Journey Through the Wilderness— The First Fight of the War— The War Wholly American for Two Years— The Braddock I\Lassacrc— The Great Change Wrought by William Pitt— Fall of Quebec— Momentous Consequences of the Great English Victory— The Growth and Progress of the Colonies and their Home Life '"^

CHAPTER IV. THE REVOLUTION— THP: WAR IN NEVs^ ENGLAND

Causes of the Revolution— Tlie Stamp Act— The Boston Tea Party— England's Unbearable Measures—The First Continental Congress— The Boston Massacre— Lexington and Concord— The Second Continental Congress— Battle of Bunker Hill— Assumption of Command by Washington

— British Evacuation of Boston — Disastrous Invasion of Canada . ' 89

Chapter V

THE REVOLUTION (CONTINUED). THE WAR IN THE IV1I013LE STATES AND ON THE SEA.

Dec'lanition of IndepenJenco — Tlie Auioiican Flag — Battle of Long Island — Washington's Retreat Through the Jerseys — Trenton and Princeton — In Winter Quarters — Lafayette— Brandywine and (Jermantown — At Valley Forge — Burgoyne's Campaign — Fort Schuyler and Bennington — Bcmis Heights and Stillwater — The Conway Cabal — Aid from France — Battle of Monmouth — iMoUy Pitcher — Failure of French Aid — Mas,sacre at Wyoming — Continent. d Money — Stony Point — Treason of Arnold — Paul Jones' Great Victory . . 103

Chapter VI. The Revolution In The South (concluded)

Capture of Savannah — British Conquest of Georgia — Fall of Charleston — Bitter Warfare in South Carolina — Battle of Camden — Of King's Mountain — Of the Cowpens — Battle of Guilford Court- House — Movements of Cornwallis — The Final Campaign — Peace and Independence . . . 131

CHAPTER Vn.

ORGANIZATION OE THE UNITED STATES.

The Method of Government During the Revolution — Impending Anarchy — The State Boundaries — State Cessions of Land — Shays' Rebellion — Adoption of the Constitution — Its Leading Features — The Ordinance of 1787 — Formation of Parties — Election of the First President and Vice- President 143

CHAPTER Vni.

ADMINISTRATIONS OE WASHINGTON, JOHN ADArvIS, AND JEEEERSON— 1789-1809.

Washington — His Inauguration as First President of the United States — Alexander Hamilton — His Success at the Head of the Treasury Department — The Obduracy of Rhode Island — Kstablishment of the United States Bank — Passage of a Tariff Bill — p]stablishment of a Mint — The Plan of a Federal Judiciary — Admission of Vermont, Kentiicky, and Tennessee — Benjamin Franklin — Troubles with the Western Indians — Their Defeat by General Wayne— Removal of the National Capital Provided for — The Whiskey Insurrection — The Course of "Citizen Genet " — Jay's Treaty — Re-election of Washington — Resignation of Jefferson and Hamilton — Washington's Farewell Address— Establishment of the United States Military Academy at West Point— The Presidential Election of 1796 — John Adams — Prosperity of the Country — Population of the Country in 1790 — Invention of the Cotton Gin — Troubles with France — War on the Ocean — Washington Appointed Commander-in-Chief— Peace Secured — The Alien and Sedition Laws — The Census of 1800— The Presidential Election of 1800— The Twelfth Amendment to the Constitution— Thomas Jefferson — Admission of Ohio — The Indiana Territory — The Purchase of Louisiana — Its Immense Area — Abolishment of the Slave Trade— War with Tripoli — The Lewis and Clark Expedition — Alexander Hamilton Killed in a Duel by Aaron Burr — The First Steamboat on the Hudson — The First Steamer to Cross the Atlantic — England's Oppressive CourSe Toward the United States — Outrage by the British Ship Lennder — The Affair of the Leopard and Clu'^npeakc — Passage of the Embargo Act — The Presidential Election of 1808 153

CHAPTEll IX.

ADMINISTRATIONS OI^ MADISON. 1809-1817.

'IHb: WAR OK 1812.

PAGE

James Madison-Tl>e Embargo and the N„n-lutercou,-.c Acts-I^ival of the Latter Against En,^ land-The LMe Belt -.md the /W./--.<-l'opalatK,n oi the Un .ted btates ,n IM)- Battle ot Tippecanoe-Declaration of War A«ai„st En.land-ComparaUve Strength ot the iwo NaUons on the Ocean-Unpopularity of the War in New England-Preparat.ons Made by the Uovernment-Cowardly Surrender of l>etroit-l>re«idential EleeUon of lS12-Adm^s>on of Lou,«,ana and Indiana-New National Ba.,k Chartered-Seeond Attempt to Inva^le Canada-Batt e ot Oueenstown Hei,hts-Ineffieienoy of the Ameriean Forees in 181 2-Bnlhant Work of the t^yXe Co,M;on and the tf^n-n'^.e-The W..p and the Frohc^^he Un,teJ St.tes.,^ the Macedonian-n,e Constitution and the ./«.a-Reorganizat.on and Strengthening of the Army-Operations in the West-Gallant Defe,.se of Fort Stephenson-AmerK=an Inva^on o Ohio and Victory of the Thames-Indian Massacre at Fort Mimms-tVture ot \ork (foronto) -Defeat of the Enemy at Sackett's Harbor-Failure of the American Invasion of <- ana. a- ho EornH and P.^cm-A-Capture of the Chesapealcc-- \)ont Give Up the Ship -Captain Deeatur Blockaded at New London-Capture of the Arg.s by the Enemy-Crnise of the &ex -The Glorious Victory of Commodore I'erry on Lake Erie-Suecess of the Anierican Arms in Canada-Battle of the Chippewa-Of Lundy's Lane-Dec.sive Defeat of the Enemy s Attack on Plattsburg-l'unishment of the Creek Indians for the Massacre at I'ort M.mms- Vigorous Action by the National Government-Burning of Washington by the British- ^^^ The Hartford Convention

CHAPTER X.

ADMINISTRATIONS OF JAMES MONROE AND JOHN QUINCY ADAM:S, 1817-1829.

James Monroe-The "Era of Good Feeling "-The Seminole War-Vigorous Measures of General Jackson-Admission of Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, and Missouri-rhe Missouri Compromise-The Monroe Doctrine-Visit of Lafayette-Introduction of the Use of Gas-Completion of the Erie Canal-The First " Hard Times'-Extinct.on of the West Indian Pirates-Presidential Election of 1824-John Quincy Adams-Prosperity of the Country-Introduction of the Railway Locomotive-Trouble witli the Cherokee^ in Georgui-Deatn ot Adams and Jefferson-Congressional Action on the Tariff-Presidential Election of lf>28 . . J)5

CHAPTER XL

ADMINISTRATIONS OP- JACKSON, VAN BUREN, W. H. HARRISON, AND TYLER, 1829-1845.

Andrew Jackson-" To the Victors Belong the Spoils "-The President's Fight with the Unit..! States Bank-Presidential Election of lS28-Distribution of the Surplus m the United btates Treasury Among the Various Statcs-The Black Hawk War-The Nullification Exc.tement- The Seminole War- Introduction of the Steam Locomotive-Anthracite Coal, McCormick s Reaper, and Friction Matches-Great Fire in New York-Population of the United States in 1830-Admission of Arkansas and Michigan-Abolitionism-France and Portugal Compelled to Pay their Debts to the United States-Thc Specie Circular, John Caldwell Camoun Henry Clay, and Daniel Webster-Presidential Election of 1836-Martin Van Buren-The 1 an.c ot 1 837-llebellion in Canada-Population of the United States in 1840-Presidential Election of 1 840 -William Henry Harrison-His Death-John Tyler-His Unpopular Course-1 he ^A ebstor- Ashburton Treaty-Civil War in Rhode ^sland-The Anti-rent War in New \ ork-A Shocking Accident — Admission of Florida — Revolt of Texas Against Mexican Rule ■ San Jacinto — Tiie Question of the Amicxation of Texas — The State Admitted — Tiie Coi)iK'r Mines of Mieiiigan — Presidential Klectioii of 1S44 — Tiie Electro-magnetic Telegraph — Professor Morse — His 1/abors in Bringing the Invention to Perfection :jl5

CHAPTER XII.

The Origin of the " Caucus"' — The Election of 17',t2 — The First Stormy Eleition — The Constitution Amended — Improvement of the Method of Nominating Presidential Candidates — The F"irst Presidential Conveniion — Convention in Haltimore in 1S32 — Exciting Scenes — The Presidential Campaign of 1S2U — "Old Hickory" — Andrew Jackson's Popularity — Jackson Nominated — "Old Hickory" Defeated — 'file " Log Cabin " and " Hard-Cider" Campaign of 1S40 — " Tippecanoe and Tyler Too " — Peculiar Feature of the Harrison Campaign ...... 239

CHAPTER XIII.

AOMINISTKATION OF FOT^Iv. 1S45-1849.

James K. Polk — Thc.War with Mexico — The First Conflict — Battle ofResaca de la Palina — Vigorous Action of the United States Government — General Scott's Plan of Campaign — Capture of Monterey — An Armistice — Capture of Saltillo — Of Victoria — Of Tampico — (Jeneral Kearny's Capture of Santa Fo — Conquest of California — Wonderful March of Colonel Donijihan — Battle of Buena Vista — Gener.al Scott's March Toward the City of Mexico — Capture of Vera Cruz — American Victory at Ccrro Gordo — Five American Victories in One Day — Santa Anna — Conquest of Mexico Completed— Terms of the Treaty of Peace— The New Territory Gained — The Slavery Dispute — 'fhe Wilinot Proviso — "Fifty-Four Forty or Fight" — Adjustment of the Oregon Boundary — Admission of Iowa and Wisconsin — The Smithsonian Institute — Discovery of Gold in California — The Mormons — The I'residential Election of 1848 ..... 251

CHAPTER XIV.

Zachary Taylor — The "Irrepressible Conflict" in Congress — ^Thc Omnibus Bill — Death of President Taylor— Millard Fillmore— Death of the Old Leaders and Debut of the New— The Census of 1850 — Surveys for a Railway to the Pacific — Presidential Election of 1S52 — Franklin I'ierce— Death of Vice-President King — A Comnierical Treaty Made with Japan — Filibustering Expeditions — The Ostend Manifesto — The "Know Nothing" T'arty — The Kansas-Nebraska Bill and Repeal of the Missouri Compromise ... ....... 2ri9

CHAPTER XV.

ADNIINISXRATION OK LINCOLN, 1861-1865

THE WAR KOR THE UNION, 1861.

Abraham Lincoln — Major Anderson's Trying Position — Jefferson Davis — Inauguration of President Lincoln — Bombardment of Fort Sumter — War Preparations North and South — Attack on Union Troops in Baltimore — Situation of the Border States — Unfriendliness of England and France — Friend.ship of Russia — The States that Composed the Southern Confederacy — Union Disaster at Big Bethel — Success of the Union Campaign in Western Virginia — General (Jeorge

PAGE

B. McC'lcllaii— First Buttle of Bull Run— General McCleilan Called to the Cominaiid of the Armj' of the IVtomae — Union J»isaster at IJall's Bluff — Military Oi)eratioiis in Missouri — Battle of Wilson's Creek — Defeat of Colonel Mulligan at Lexington, Wo. — Supersedure of Fremont — Operations on the Coast — The Trent Affair — Summary of the Year's Operations . . . 285

CHAPTER XVI.

ADMINISTRATION OK LINCOLN (CONTINUKD),

WAR KOR THE UNION (CONTINUED), 1862.

Capture of Forts Henry and Donclson — Change in the Confederate Bine of Defense — Capture of Island No. 1(1 — Battle of Pittsburg Landing or Shiloh — Capture of Corinth — Narrow Escape of Louisville — Battle of I'erryville — Battle of Murfreesboro' or Stone River — Battle of Pea Ridge — Naval Battle Between the Monitor and Mtirlmac — Fate of the Two Vessels — Capture of New Orleans — The Advance Against Ricliniund — McClellan's Peninsula Campaign — The First Confederate Iimnsion of the North — Jloltle of Antieliim or ShorpsliKru — I)is<islr(iiis Union liipvlse at trederlcksbiirp — Summort/ of the Wur's Operations — 7'/(e Confederate Privateers — The Emancipation Proclamation — Greenbuclcs and Bond Issues ....... 301

• CHAPTER XVII.

ADIVllNISTRATItJN OR LINCOLN (CONTINUED),

1861-18(35.

WAR KOR THE UNION (CONTINUED), 1863.

The Military Situation in the West — Siege and Capture of Vicksburg — The Mississippi Opened — Battle of Chickamauga — "The Hock of Chiekamauga " — The Battle Above the Clouds — Siege of Knoxville — General Hooker Appointed to the Command of the Army of the Potomac — His Plan of Campaign Again.st Richmond — Stonewall Jackson's Stampede of the Eleventh Corps — ■ Critical Situation of the Union Army — Death of Jackson — l?attlc of Chancellorsville — Defeat of Hooker — The Second Confederate Invasion — Battle of Gettysburg — The Decisive Struggle of the War — Lee's Retreat — Subsequent Movements of Lee and Meade — Confederate Privateering — Destruction of the Nashrille — Failure of the Attacks on Charleston — The Military Raids — Stuart's Narrow Escape — Stoneman's Raid — Morgan's Raid in Indiana and Ohio . . . 333

CHAPTER XVIII.

ADIVIINISTRATION (^K LINCOLN (CONCLUDED),

WAR KOR THE UNION (CONCLUDED), 1864-1865.

The Work Remaining to be Done — General (jlrant Placed in Command of all the Union Armies — The Grand Campaign — Bank's Disastrous Red River Expedition — How the Union Fleet was Saved — Capture of Mobile by Admiral Farragut — The Confederate Cruisers — Destruction of the Alabama by the Kearsar/je—FiLte of the Other Confederate Cruisers — Destruction of the Albemarle by Lieutenant William B. Cusliing — Re-election of President Lincoln — Distress in the South and Prosperity in the North — The Union Prisoners in the South — Admission of Nevada — The Confederate Raids from Canada — Sherman's Advance to Atlanta — Fall of Atlanta — Hood's Vain Attempt to Relieve Georgia — Superb Success of General Thomas — " Marching Through Georgia" — Sherman's Christmas Gift to President Lincoln — Opening of Grant's Final Campaign — Battles in the Wililerness — Wounding of (Jeneral Longstreet and Death of Generals

PAGE

Stuart and Sedgwick — Grant's Flanking Movements Against Lee— A Disastrous Repulse at Cold Ilai-bor — Defeat of" Sigel and Hunter in tlie Shenandoah Valley — " Hottling-up " of Butler — Explosions of the Petersburg Mine — Early's Raids — His Final Defeat by Sheridan — Grant's Campaign — Surrender of Lee— Assassination of President Lincoln — Death of Booth and Punishment of the Conspirators — Surrender of Jo Johnston and Collapse of the Southern Confederacy — Capture of Jefferson Davis — His Release and Death— ^Statistics of the Civil War — A Characteristic Anecdote 367

CHAITER XIX.

ADMINISTRATIONS OK JOHNSON ANIJ GKANT,

Andrew Johnson — Reconstruction — Quarrel Between the President and Congress — The Fenians — Execution of Maximilian — Admission of Nebraska — Laying of the Atlantic Cable — Purchase of Alaska — Impeachment and Acquittal of the I'resident — Carpet-bag Rule in the South — Presidential Election of liSGS — U. S. Grant — Settlement of the Afulxima Claims — -Completion of the Overland Railway — The Chicago Fire — Settlement of the Northwestern Boundary — I'resideiitial F]lection of 1872 — The Modoc Troubles — Civil War in Louisiana — Admission of Colorado — Panic of IST:i — Notable Deaths — Custer's Massacre — The Centennial — The Presidential Election of 1S70 the Most Perilous in the History of the Country 407

CHAPTER XX.

At3MINISTRATlONS OK HAYKS, GARFIKLD, AND ARTHUR, 1877-1885.

R. B. Hayes — The Telei>hone — Railway Strikes — Elevated Railroads — War with the Nez Perce Indians — Remonetization of Silver — Resumiition of Specie Payments — A Strange Fishery Award — The Yellow Fever Scourge — Presidential F;lection of 1S7S — James A. Garfield — Civil Service Reform — Assassination of President Garfield — Chester A. Arthur — The Star Route Frauds — The Brooklyn Bridge — ^The Ciiinese Question — The Mormons — Alaska Exploration — The Yorktown Centennial — Attempts to Reach the North Polo by Americans — History of the Oreely Expedition 427

CHAPTER XXI.

ADMINISTRATION OK CLEVELAND (KIRST) AND OK HARRISON, 1885-1803.

Grover Cleveland — Completion of the Washington Monument — The Bartholdi Statue — Death of General Grant—Death of Vice-President Hendricks — The First Vice-President to Die in Office — George Clinton — Elbridge Gerry — William R. King — Henry Wilson — Death of General McClellan — Of General Hancock — His Career — The Dispute Between Capital and Labor — Arbitration^The Anarchistic Outbreak in Chicago — The Charleston Earthquake^Conqucst of the Apaches — Presidential Election of 1RS8 — Benjamin Harrison — The Johnstown Disaster — Threatened War with Chili — The Indian Uprising of 1S9U-91 — Admission of New States — Presidential Election of 1892 459

CHAPTER XXII.

ADIVIINISTRATION OP" CLKVKLAND (SECOND), 1S03-1.S07.

TACE

Repeal of the Purchase Clause of the Sherman Bill — The World's (Johiiiibian Kxpositiun at Ciiica.^o - — Tlie Hawaiian Imbroglio — The Great Railroad Strike of 1S'J4 — Coxey's Commonweal Army — Admission of Utah — Harnessing of Niagara — Dispute with England Over Venezuela's Boundary—Presidential Eleetion of IS'.IC) 487

CHAPTER XXIII.

ADMINISTRATION OF CLEVELAND (SECOND, CONCLUDED), l.^yy-l«!)7.

Settling tlie Northwest — The Face of the Country Transformed— Clearing Away the Forests and its Effects — Tree-planting on the Prairies — Pioneer Life in tiie Seventies — -The Granary of the World — The Northwestern Fanner — Transportation atid Other Industries — Business Cities and Centres — United Public Action and its Influence — Tiie Indian Question — Other Elements of Population — Society and General Culture 511

CHAPTER XXIV.

ADMINISTRATION OE N4oKINLEY, 1S97-1001.

William McKiidey — Organization of "Greater New York" — Removal of (ieneral Grant's Remains to Morningside Park — The Klondike Golil Excitement — Spain's Misrule in Cuba — Pieliminary. Events of the Spanish-American War 527

CHAPTER XXV.

ADMINISTRATION OE MoKINLEY (CONTINUED),

THE SEANISH-AMEKICAN WAR.

Opening Incidents— Bombardment of Matanz.as- Dewey's Wonderful Victory at Manila- Disaster to the It //(.s7</(/i at Cardenas Bay — The First American Loss of Life — Bombardmenl of San Juan, Porto Rico — 'I'lie Elusive Spanish Fleet — Bottlcd-up in Santiago Harbor — Lieutenant Hobson's Daring Ex])loit— Second Bombardment of Santiago and Arrival of the Army — Gallant Work of the Rough Riders and the Regulars — Battles of San Juan and El Cancy — Destruction of (Jervera's Fleet — General Shafter Reinforced in Front of Santiago — Surrender of the City — General Miles in Porto Rico— An Easy Conquest— Conquest of the Philippines — Peace Negotiations and Signing of the Protocol — Its Terms — Members (jf the National Peace Commission — Return of the Troops from (!uba and Porto llico — The Peace Commission in Paris — Conclusion of its Work — Terms of the Treaty — Ratified by the Senate 547