Read here

A history of the United States, on a new plan; adapted to the capacity of youth

J. Olney · 1836 · Scanned text

93,621 words · about 6 h 33 min to read

Period artwork: Interior of the Bodleian Library, 1845
About this edition

Scanned text — may contain errors · view original scans

Licence: PD · Library of Congress states the book is in the public domain and free to use and reuse (https://data.labs.loc.gov/digitized-books/README.html); published 1836, author long deceased · Library of Congress, Selected Digitized Books (https://www.loc.gov/item/02005154); text via the Common Pile (CC BY 4.0 compilation, per-document rights preserved)

Text from Library of Congress, read from page scans by OCR and set out for reading on screen; no words of the book are rewritten or summarized. How RedLectern is built

About this book

Author
J. Olney
Language
English
Published
1836
Length
93,621 words · about 6 h 33 min
Sections
4 reader sections
Text
Scanned text, read from page scans by OCR; may contain errors
Rights
Public domain

 

Contents (4)
  1. Preface about 3 min
  2. Contents under 1 min
  3. Index about 4 min
  4. Introduction about 6 h 26 min

Continue:

Preface

Among the numerous brancljes taught in our schools, history has justly taken a high rank. It is now considered a necessary part of a good education. The man of business in common life, as well as the professional man, finds frequent occasion to refer to past events. Not only tl)e lawyer and the statesman, but every freeman who gives in his vote to influence the great political interests of the nation, ought to be familiar with the more prominent events of his country's history.

The history of the United States is replete- with interest and instruction. The mind is first fi.x;ed upon a vast, unexplored wilderness, inhabited only by wild beasts and wandering savages. After many years of toil and danger, our noble ancestors are seen laying the foundations of a mighty nation, and establishing those institutions which are at once the pride and the glory of posterity. Their struggles in war against the Indians, and their steady resistance of the selfish policy of the mother country, afford numerous and striking examples of virtue and patriotism. The establishment of a national government with its constitution and laws, displays the wisdom and integrity of a body of men, whose example is worthy of universal imitation. The rapid progress of the country from a state of poverty and wretchedness to circumstances of affluence and power, developes all the energies of human nature, and aftbrds many valuable lessons to the youthful mind.

A conviction that a history of our own country well adapted to the use of common schools, where the great mass of our population begin and complete their education, would be highly condusive to the best interests of the nation ; and that every sucessfull attempt at improvement would meet with corresponding encouragement from my fellow-citizens, has induced me to undertake the following work.

I have endeavored to relate the most important events, in the order of time in which they occurred, so as to present unbroken b PEEFACE.

that series of causes and effects, which should be strictly preserved in every work of this kind. I have added a great amount of matter in the form of notes, consisting of biographical sketches of eminent men, anecdotes &c., illustrating the text, and at the same time, calculated to please and instruct. These, without interrupting the regular narrative, are inserted for the benefit of those who have not access to biographical works, enabling them to form some estimate of the principal characters connected with our history.

The plan of the work, the author has had in mind for several years; and, after long experience in the instruction of youth, feels persuaded' that it is well calculated to secure the attention and interest of the scholar, and impart as good a knowledge of our history, as any work of its size.

I have divided the history into /our periods ; the first, extending from the discovery, to the first settlement ; the second, from the settlement of Jamestown, to the Declaration of Independence ; the third, extending from this period to the adoption of the Federal constitution ; and the fourth, comprising the events from that time to the present. This divisiorl appears the most natural and most easily remembered. Too many divisions only perplex the mind ; it being as difficult to remember the dates of a great many periods and connect them with the events included, as to remember the dates of the important events themselves. The questions are printed on the same page with the text, which every one, by a little experience, will find to be of great advantage. In preparing the work, the most approved authorities have been consulted, and special pains taken to render it correct in every important particular. To a generous and discriminating public, it is now respectfully submitted by the author.

J. OLNEY.

Southington, June \st, 1836.

TO THE TEACHER.— The authoi' would respectfully suggest tliat the scholar should begin with the Introdiictonj lesson on the 24th page. The im. portaiit matter iu tJie IiUroduciion may be more profitably studied afterwards.

Contents

PAGE.

General Division,

Introductory Lesson,

Index

Abercrombie, Gen. 111.

195,243.

Adams, J. Q. 243, 244.

Adet, 191.

Alabama, 241.

Alexandria, 231.

Algiers, 191, 238.

Allen, Eathan, 125.

Allen, Samuel, 74.

Americus Vespucius, 22.

Amherst, Gen. 111,112.

Andre, Major, 167.

Andross, Sir Edmund, 66, 77, 84.

Annapolis, 180.

Arkansas, 249.

B.

Bacon, Nathaniel, 43.

Bainbridge, Com. 199, 214.

Baltimore city, 231.

Baltimore, Lord, 87, 89.

Banks, 185, 238,244.

Barclay, Robert, 78.

Baptists, persecution of, 60.

Barnwell, Col. 95.

Baum, Col. 147.

Bennington, 147, 148.

Berkley, Sir Wm. 42, 77.

Billinge, Edward, 77.

Bladensburg,231.

Blakelv,Capt. 233.

Boon, Col. Daniel, 186.

Braddock, Gen. 107, 108.

Bridgewater, 226.

Brock, General, 212.

Brown, Gen. 217, 226.

Bunker Hill, 127.

Burgoyne, Gen, 146, 150.

Burnet, Wm. 51.

C.

Cabot, John, 26, 53.

Cabot, Sebastian, 26.

Calhoun, John C. 243, 244.

Carteret, Sir George, 77.

Carthagenians, 15.

Catawba river, 172.

Cliampe, John, 169.

Charleston, 129.

Cholera, 245.

Chauncey, Com. 217.

Church, Capt. 64.

Clarke, Col. 160.

Clay, Henry, 243, 246.

Clay, General, 216.

Clayborne, Wm.88.

Clinch, Gen. 249.

Clinton, De Witt, 215.

Clinton, George, 188.

Coddington, Wm. 91.

Coligny, 28.

College. Harvard, 59.

College] Yale, 86.

College, Princeton, 78.

College, Providence, 92.

Columbus, 17, Columbia, District of, 195.

Commerce, 250.

Compass, 16.

Concord, 123.

Confederacy, 59, 83, 92.

Confederation, Articles of, 153.

Connecticut, 80.

Constitution, federal, 180.

INDEX.

175, 178.

Cowpens, battle of, 171.

Cromwell, Oliver, 43, 58, 83.

Creeks, 249.

Crown Point, 108, 125.

D.

Dearborn, Gen. 212.

Davenport. Rev. John, 82.

Dade, Major, 248.

Danbury, 145.

Decatur, Stephen, 199, 214, 218 Deerfield, attack upon, 69.

D'Estaing, 155, 161.

De Kalb, Baron, 164.

Delaware, 79.

Detroit, 210.

Dover, destruction of, 74.

Drake, Sir F. 31.

Dunmore, Lord, 129, 13U.

E.

Eaton, Wm. 200.

Edward, fort, 147.

Education, 258.

Embargo, 203.

Endicott, John, 55.

Eutaw Springs, 173.

Fenwick, George, 83.

Fire, great, 247.

Fletcher, Col. 49, 85.

Florida, 242, 248.

Franklin, Dr. 144, 179.

Frazer, Gen. 150.

Frenchtown, 216.

G.

Gage, Gen. 119,122.

Gaines, Gen. 248.

Georgia, 102.

Germantown, 151.

Gerry, Elbridge. 194, 215.

Gilbert, Sir H. 30.

Gloucester, 177.

Goffeand Whaley, 61.

Government, 252.

Griswold, fort, 176.

Guilford Court House, 173.

H.

Hale, Capt. Nathan, 137.

Hamilton. Alexander, 183, 184.

188,201.

Hancock, John, 126.

Hartford, 81.

Harvey. Sir John, 42.

Hawk, Black, 245.

Hayne, Col. Isaac, 174.

Heath, Sir Robert, 93.

Henry, Patrick, 129.

Hooker, Rev. Mr. 81.

Hudson, Henry, 44.

Hunter, Gen. 51.

Hutchinson, Ann, 57.

Hull, Gen. 210.

Hull, Capt. 213.

Illinois, 240.

Improvements, Internal, 251.

Declaration of.

Independence,

136.

Indiana, 238.

Indians, Southern, 224.

Insurrection, 97.

J.

244, 246.

Jackson, Mr. 205.

Jamestown, 35.

Jasper, Sergeant, 161.

195,198,204,243.

Jessup, Major, 226.

Johnson, Gen. 108.

Johnson, Col. R. M. 222.

Jones, Capt. 214.

K.

Kentucky, 186.

INDEX.

il

Kidd, Capt. 50.

Knox, Geo. 183.

L.

Lawrence, Capt. 219.

Ledyard, Col. 176, Lee, Gen. 141.

Lee, Charles, 154.

Lee, fort, 140.

Leisler, Jacob, 47.

Lewistown,218.

Lexington, 124.

Londonderry, 75.

Loudon, Lord, 110.

M.

Macdonough, Com. 229.

Macomb, Gen. 228.

Maine, 241.

Manufactures, 250.

Marion, Gen. 165, 173.

Marshall, John, 194.

Maryland, 87.

Mason, Capt. 58.

Mason, Robert, 73.

Massachusetts, 53.

McHenry, fort, 232.

McCrea, Jane, 154.

Mercer, Gen. 143.

Michigan, 249.

Miller, Col. 227.

Mississippi. 239, 241.

Missouri, 241.

Money, continental, 163.

242.

Montgomery, Gen. 130, 132, 133 Montreal, 131.

Moore, Gov. 96, 97.

Morgan, Gen. 171.

Morristown, 145.

Moultrie, Col. 135.

N.

New-Hampshire, 72.

New-Haven, 82, 158.

New- Jersey, 76.

New-London, 176.

New-Orleans, 233.

Newport, 156.

179, 247.

Niagara, 109, Ninety-six, fort, 173.

North Carolina, 93.

Nova-Scotia, 106.

O.

Oglethorpe, James, 102, 103.

Ohio, 198.

Oswego, 109.

P.

Packenham, Gen. 234.

Parker, Sir Peter, 135.

Penn, Wm.77,80, 98.

People, condition of, 251.

Perry, Com. 220, 221.

Pennsylvania. 98.

Philadelphia, 100, 122.

Philip, 62, 63,64, 65.

Phoenicians, 14.

Pigot, Gen. 129.

Pike, Gen. 217.

Pinckney, Charles C. 192, 193,

195. ' Pinckney, Thomas, 191.

Pittsburg, 112.

Plattsburg, 228.

Platform, Say brook, 86.

Plymouth, .55.

Pocahontas, 38.

Porter, Com. 233.

Preble. Com. 199.

Prescott, Col. 127.

Provost, Gen. 228.

Prideaux, Gen. 112.

Princeton, 143, 170.

INDEX.

Providence, 91.

Pulaski, Count, 161.

Puritans, 54.

a

R.

Raleigh, Sir W. 30.

Randolph, Edward, 66.

Randolph, Edmund, 184, 186.

Reed, Gen. 153.

Religion, 265.

Revolution, 116.

Rhode-Island, 90.

Riall, Gen. 226.

Ripley, Gen. 227.

Rogers, Com. 206.

Ross, Gen. 230, 23L Rush, Richard, 243.

S.

Sackets Harbor, 217.

Sayle, Win. 94, 95.

Saybrook, 83.

Schenectady, 48.

Schuyler, Gen. 147,

Shirley, Gen. 109.

Six Nations, 106, 133.

Sloughtcr, Col. Henry, 49.

Smith, John, 35.

Smith, Gen. 212.

Sothel, Seth, 94, 96.

South Carolina, 95, 245.

Stamp-act, 117.

Stark, Gen. 148.

St. Clair, Gen. 187.

St. Marys, 87.

Sullivan, Gen. 134, 160.

Tariff bill, 245.

Taylor, Col. 156.

Thomas, Gen. 133.

Ticonderoga, 111,112, 146= Tippecanoe, 207.

Trenton, 141.

Truxton, Com. 194.

Tuscaroras, 94.

V.

Valley Forge, 152.

Van Buren, Martin, 246.

Vane, Sir Henry, 57.

Van Rensselaer, 211,212.

Vaughan, Gen. 150.

Vermont, 27.

Verrazzano, 27.

W.

Wadsworth, Capt. 85, 86.

Walden, Major, 74.

Warner, Gen. 187.

Warren, Gen. 129.

Warren, Admiral, 218.

War, Pequot, 58.

War, French, 105.

War of Revolution, 123.

War, Seminole, 240, 247.

Washington, fort, 140.

Washigton City, 230.

West-Point. 167.

Whitfield, George, 102.

White Plains, 140.

Williams, Roger, 57,90, 92.

Williams, Col. 108.

Winder, Gen. 230.

Winslow, Geo. 64, 80.

Winslow, Gen. 106.

VVinthrop, Geo. 56.

Winthrop, John, 81, 84.

Wirt, Wm. 246.

Wisconsin, 249.

Witchcraft, 68, 69.

V\ yoming, 156.

The opening of the book is shown; the full text loads in the reader.

Loading the full text…