A school history of the United States of America, from the earliest discoveries to the year 1870.

Front matter

University Publishing Company's

Maury's Geographical Works.

First Lessons in Geography. Small 4to. 63 cts. The World we Live/ In.

Preface

This book contains a brief history of the United States. It is hoped that it may prove a serviceable manual for schools, till other years and calmer j udgments permit a more complete, accurate, and satisfactory account to be composed or accepted. Before the task was undertaken it was known that tnere was misapprehension or misrepresentation iu regard to the earlier periods, and that details were often discolored or disguised by political, sectional, or local prejudices. It is keenly felt that, during the late sad years, passions have been too violent and wounds too fresh for the preparation or reception of a dispassionate account. Many grave questions, too, are still in dispute without the possibility of reaching secure conclusions.

These views are confirmed by the posthumous publication of some remarks of General Lee. In a letter dated 11th July, 1869, he writes :

u I feel more strongly than I can describe the importance of a true history of the war between the Northern and Southern States, and had resolved to prepare a narrative of the military occurrences in Virginia. I have not changed my purpose, but at first thought the times unpropitious. The passions of neither section had sufficiently cooUd to bear the truth, the only thing I cared to relate. I do not think that time has arrived yet, but it is approaching T

Why, then, it may be asked, undertake to write a history at all ? Because there was an urgent demand for a manual on the subject which would not infect young minds with statements perverted and acrimonious. A just and impartial text-book was required; and this is an endeavor to supply one not consciously partisan or sectional. It

PREFACE.

may not be free from* errors and blemishes — but it observes the precept, " Extenuate nothing, nor aught set down in malice."

There is a constant and deliberate abstinence from comment on the transactions related. Their discussion is beyond the sphere of the young, and there has been no room to indulge in it.

The Maps and Pictorial Illustrations will afford all requisite aid and all appropriate interest to the pupil. Maps of campaigns and plans of battles have been omitted, as they are deemed of little real service to the young learner. The Chronological Tables have been made full, as they are designed for habitual reference. To economize space and avoid perplexing details, the general course of battles has been stated, without noting the manoeuvres. The opposing numbers in the War of Secession have rarely been given, and the victory has often been kft unassigned. There is no agreement on such subjects, and can be none for years to come.

Free use has been made of the labors of preceding writers, for which only a general acknowledgment can be made. All readily accessible sources of knowledge have been used in this compilation, whose chief originality consists in its spirit and in its mode of presenting the subject.

The book is commended to the young scholar, with the wish that it may satisfy the immediate demand for information in regard to his country's history ; and with the assurance that there is a splendid destiny before that country, to which all may contribute by intelligence, industry, and elevation of personal character, and by that last and greatest of all virtues, charity for the peculiarities, the frailties, the temptations, and the sins of others.

DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF AMERICA.

CHAPTER

I. The Discovery of America, 1492-1501 16

II. Progress of Spanish Discovery and Settlement 19

III. French Discovery and Colonization 22

IV. Dutch and Swedish Explorations and Settlement 25

Part II. The English Colon Les In North America

I. First English Attempts at Colonization 29

II. Rescue and Growth of the Virginia Colony 36

III. Plymouth Bay and Massachusetts Bay Colonies 41

IV. Rhode Island and Connecticut 47

V. Maryland 52

VII. Massachusetts and the other Colonies of New England #9

IX. New Jersey, Delaware, and Pennsylvania 69

X. The Carolinas, 1630-1747 74

XII. The Great French and Indian War, 1756-1763 83

Part III. The American Revolution And The Establishment Of The United States

I. The Prelude to the Revolution, 1763-1775 97

II. The Revolution. First Two Years of the War, 1775-6 107

III. The Revolution (continued). Transactions of 1777 and 1778 122

IV. The Revolution (continued). Transactions of the Years 1779 and 1780 U7

V. The Revolution (continued). From 1781 to the close of the War 150

VI. The Establishment of the United States 163

CONTENTS.

Part IV. From The Establishment Of The United States To The Missouri

COMFROMISE.

CHAPTER PAGE

I, Washington's Administration, 1789-1797 173

II. Administrations of John Adams and Jefferson, 1797-1809 181

III. Madison's Administration and the War with Great Britain, 1809-1813 189

IV. Madison's Administration and the War with Great Britain (continued),

1814-15 203

V. Monroe's Administration, to the Missouri Compromise, 1817-1821 216

Part V

FROM THE MISSOURI COMPROMISE TO THE GREAT CIVIL WAR. I. Monroe's Second Term, and the Administration of John Quincy Adams,

1821-1829 225

II. Jackson's Administration, 1829-1837 229

III. Administration of Martin Van Buren, General Harrison, and John Tyler,

1837-1845 235

IV. Administration of James K. Polk, and the Mexican War, 1845-1849 242

V. Administrations of Taylor, Fillmore, and Pierce, 1849-1857 254

VI. Administration of James Buchanan, 1857-1861 260

Part VI. History Of The Great Civil War And The Years Ensuing

I. Admini.stratkm of Abraham Lincoln. First Year of the War of Secession,

1861 272

II. President Lincoln's Administration (continued). Second Year of the War

of Secession, 1862 . 282

III. President Lincoln's Administration (continued). Third Year of the War of

Secession, 1863 292

IV. President Lincoln's Administration (continued). Fourth Year of the War

of Secession, 1864 301

V. Close of President Lincoln's Administration, and end of the War of Seces-

VI. Administration of President Johnson and President Grant, 1865-1870 320

The Constitution of the United States of America 340

MAPS SHOWING THE GROWTH OF THE UNITED STATES. I. Discoveries, Explorations, and Ethnographic Map of the Indian Tribes of

the United States, a. d. 1600 14

. II. French Claims in 1750, and the United States at the close of the Revolution . . 9">

III. The United States in 1820 220

IV. The United States in 1870 326

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

INTRODUCTION.

I. The Subject and Arrangement of the Work

Summary, — 1. Design of the work. 2. Situation and natural advantages of the United States. 3. Necessity of showing the origin of the component parts of the confederation. 4. Plan of this history. 5. The natives of America to be first noticed.

1. This work presents a short account of the origin and growth of the United States of North America. The great republic already covers more than a third of that continent. Its extent, its government, its wealth, its power, and its prospective destiny render its history interesting and instructive to all.

2. The United States occupies the middle and most desirable portion of North America. It stretches from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, and fi *om the St. Lawrence, the Great Lakes, and the Columbia River to the gulfs of Mexico and California. The purchase of Alaska has carried its northwestern limits to the Polar Sea. This immense territory possesses numerous harbors on its seas and lakes ; it is traversed in all directions by great rivers ; it has a fertile soil, a genial and diversified climate ; and it is blessed with great abundance and variety of agricultural and mineral productions.

1. What does this work present? How much of North America is already covered hy the United States ? Why is the history of the country interesting to all ?

2. What part of North America is occupied by the United States ? Where does it reach the Polar Sea ? What is the character of its territory ?

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

3. This mighty confederation of states has sprung from small and often obscure beginnings, and has grown strong by the junction of separate settlements, and by acquiring the colonies and possessions of other nations. Hence it is necessary to notice the course of discovery and occupation, and to trace the different origin of the communities now united under one political authority.

4. This history will accordingly be distributed into the following parts : —

I. Discovery and Colonization of America.

II. English Golonies in North America, 1576 to 1763.

III. The American Revolution and the establishment of

the United States, 1763 to 1789.

IV. The United States to the Missouri Compromise,

V. The United States to the Secession of the Southern States, 1820 to 1861.

VI. The Civil War and the years ensuing, 1861 to 1870.

5. Awkward interruptions of the narrative will be prevented by introducing at this point a brief notice of the native inhabitants of the country who were displaced by the progress of European settlement.

II. The North American Indians

Summary. The natives, sole occupants of America at the close of the fifteenth century. 2. Condition of the North American Indians. 3. Indian races. 4. The Algonquins — their location and tribes. 5. The Iroquois. 6. The Appalachians. 7. The Cherokees. 8. The Dacotahs and their tribes. 9. The Shoshonees. 1 0. The other stocks.

1. The whole of America was in possession of native tribes till the last years of the fifteenth century. They were called Indians because it was supposed that India had been reached

3. How has this confederation arisen ? What is necessary in consequence ?

4. How is this history distributed? What must be noticed before proceeding with this history ?

II. — 1. Who possessed the whole of America? Why were the natives called Indians? Is their origin known? What seems to have been their early home? What indicates a previous race in America ?

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.

when the New World was discovered. The origin and early fortunes of the race have not been ascertained. The north of Asia seems to have been their primeval home. Earthworks, and burial-mounds, and curious relics scattered over the Mississippi Yalley and elsewhere, show that they had been preceded by more advanced populations of kindred or of alien blood. But all is dark and doubtful.

2. The Mexicans had made much progress in civil and industrial arts.

But the Aborigines within the limits of the United States were savages, and, with a few exceptions, were hunting \ or fishing tribes.

Those dwelling east j of the Rocky' Mountains are usually meant when the North American Indians are spoken of, and will alone be noticed here.

3. Most of these Indians may be assigned to six prominent stocks : I. The Algonquins (air gon'kwins)\ II. The Iroquois (ir-o-lcwoy'), or Mingoes; HI. The Appalachians {ap-pal-cdki-ans) ; IV. The Cherokees ; V. The Decotahs (da-ko'tas) ; VI. The Shoshonees. Less prominent races are : VII. The Chicoras (she-cd'ras) ; VIII.

2. What native tribes had made some advances in civilization ? What was the condition of the rest ? Who are meant by North American Indians ?

3. What are the six principal stocks ? What are the less prominent races ?

I*

INDIANS AND WIGWAM.

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

The Catawbas; IX. The Uchees (yu-shees'); X. The Natchez ; XL The Apachees, and XII. The Cheyennes (ski-ens').

4. A glance at the Ethnographical Map will show the positions of most of these stocks. The Algonquins were the most numerous and the most widely extended. They stretched from the sources of the Saskatchawan (sas-katctiawan) to the mouth of the St. Lawrence, and thence along the Atlantic coast to Cape Fear. A part of this territory was taken from them by the Iroquois. The Algonquins included the Powhatans (pow-hat-tans f ), the Delawares, the Manhattans (man-hat' tans), the Mohicans (mo-hee 'Jeans) , the Pequods (pee'kwods), the Narragansetts, and many other tribes. They were the chief enemies of the English settlers.

5. The Iroquois were nearly surrounded by the Algonquins. They are known in early times as the Five Nations. In the later period, after receiving the Tuscaroras (1712), they are called the Six Nations. The primitive alliance consisted of the Oneidas (d-nee'das), the Onondagas (o-nondah'gas), the Mohawks, the Cayugas (ka-yu'gas) and the Senecas.

6. The Appalachians, or Mobilians, spread from the Savannah River to the Sabine, and north ward to the mouth of the Ohio. They embraced the Creeks, the Choctaws, and the Chickasaws, and admitted the Seminoles (seni'm^oles) into their confederation.

7. The Cherokees were surrounded by the three races already mentioned. They peopled the southern valleys of the Alleghany, and the rich lands along the Cumberland and the Tennessee.

8. The Dacotahs were found on both sides of the Mis-

4. Which was the most numerous stock ? What was the extent of their domain ? How had it been diminished ? What tribes were Algonquin ?

5. Where were the Iroquois situated ? By what names are they known ? What tribes formed the primitive league ? What was the sixth tribe ?

6. What were the limits of tne Appalachians ? What tribes did they embrace ?

7. How were the Cherokees placed ? What region did they inhabit?

8. Where were the Dacotahs found? What was the extent of their claims? What tribes' did they comprehend ?

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.

sissippi, but their main possessions lay west of it. They claimed almost the whole valley of the Missouri and of the Arkansas {ark' an- saw). They comprehended the Sioux (sod) , Winnebagoes, Iowas (i-o-ways'), Quaggas, Osages, Otoes, Missouris, Omahas (om-a-haws'), Pawnees, Arickarees, Minnitarees, Mandans, Arkansas (ark-an-saws') , and Kansas.

9. The Shoshonees (sho'sho-nees) border on the Dacotahs to the southwest. They lie beyond the limits of the map which has been given. They do not appear in the history of English settlement. They start from the peaks that overlook the fountains of the Columbia, the Colorado (col- 6 -rah 'do), and the Missouri, and sweep over the Rocky Mountains from the frontiers of Oregon and California to the plains of Texas and the mouth of the Rio Grande. The Comanches (co-man' shees) are amongst them, but are scarcely of them.

10. Our information in regard to the less important stocks is unsatisfactory. The Chicoras occupied the Carolinas ; the Yemassees (yem'as-sees) along the coast were their chief tribe. Inland were the Catawbas — strangers driven southward by the Iroquois. The lichees dwelt amid the romantic scenery round the head of the Savannah. The Natchez on the east bank of the Mississippi have been referred to a Mexican origin ; but there is not sufficient evidence of such descent. Little is known of the connections of the Cheyennes along the Red River of the North ; or of the Apachees in New Mexico and the Mexican provinces. The other Indian races may be left unnoticed.

9. What was the position of the Shoshonees? and the range of their dominion?

10. Where did the Chicoras dwell? Which was their chief tribe? What tribe in the interior? Where were the Uchees ? Where w T ere the Natchez? and what origin has been ascribed to them ? Where were the Cheyennes and Apachees ? What is known of them?

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

III. Peculiarities of the North American Indians

Summary.— \ . Physical characteristics of the Indians. 2. Moral characteristics. 3. Habits, occupations, arts. 4. Warfare. 5. Treatment of women— of children —of the old and the diseased. 6. Religion. 7. Indian conception of death. 8. Political condition. 9. Ignorance of letters— picture-writing. 10. Indians at first dangerous.

1. The North American Indians are of a reddish brown, or copper complexion, and have been called Red Men in consequence. They are tall, straight, active, and graceful, but they cannot sustain long continued toil. Deformity is rarely found among them. Their features are generally regular. Their hair is black, straight, and long ; but the beard is scanty, or entirely wanting.

2. The senses of the Indian are quick, and his observation acute ; but he has little capacity for reflection. He is guided chiefly by custom, appetite, or passion. He is bold, but prefers cunning : he is sometimes magnanimous, but more frequently treacherous and vindictive. He is improvident and reckless; he is fond of finery, fond of sports, and addicted to gambling. He is haughty, and with strangers he is reserved.

3. The habits of the Indian agreed with this character. Hunting was his main employment ; Agriculture only aided the uncertain subsistence obtained by the chase, or by fishing. He had neither flocks nor herds, and no domestic animal but his dog. He was ignorant of the plough, the harrow, and the spade ; and had no acquaintance with iron. His knowledge of useful arts was very small. He hacked down trees with axes of stone, and shaped them for use

HI.— 1. What is the complexion of the Indians? What name have they received from this ? What are their physical qualities ?

2. What are the excellences, and what the defects of the Indian ? By what is he guided ? What is his character ?

3. With what do the Indian's habits agree ? What is his main employment ? For what is agriculture pursued? What was his knowledge of tools, etc. ? What was the character of Indian implements, weapon^, habitations, clothing, cookery, etc. ?

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.

with similar tools, and with fire. His weapons were the bow and arrow, the spear, the club, the tomahawk, and the scalping, knife. His tent or wigwam was made of poles covered with bark or skins. Wild animals furnished him with clothing.

His cooking and other vessels were of stone, wood, or coarse pottery ; and the preparation of his food was as rude as the means of preparing it.

4. W a r was the Indian's passion. He entered upon it with savage glee. He adorned himself for battle, and made his face hideous with paint. He revelled in carnage, and tore the bleeding scalp from his foe to decorate his wigwam.

His captives were tied to a stake and subjected to cruel tortures. In their agony they chanted their death- song, celebrating their own exploits, and reviling their conquerors.

4. How was war regarded by the Indian ? How.^lid he prepare himself for batilt : How did he treat his enemy, and his captive? How did captives conduct them selves ?

AN INDIAN.

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

5. The labors of the tent, the field, the' journey, and nearly all the simple arts required, were imposed upon the women, who were drudges and slaves. Handicraft, or labor, was unmanly. The bride was bought, sold, and traded like a bale of beaver-skins. Children were neglected after infancy. The old and diseased were often abandoned, and were sometimes put to death, to be rid of the duty of supporting them.

6. Many divinities were adored by the Indians, but a supreme God was only vaguely recognized. The rites of worship were reserved for inferior and malignant powers. Simple sacrifices were common ; human victims were rarely offered. Seers and prophets arose with no commission but their own pretensions.

The Medicine-Man discharged the sacred offices of healing, charming, and interpreting dreams.

7. The Indian looked upon death as simply a migration to the Happy Land.

His bow, his quiver, his tomahawk, and his richest garments were buried with him, that he might at once resume his earthly career. His bowl, and corn, and venison, and tobacco, and pipe, were placed in the grave, that he might not hunger or faint on his long journey.

8. There was scarcely any government among the Indians. The authority of the

INDIAN BOW, ARROW, ETC

chief, or sachem, depended on his own

5. On whom did nearly all labors rest ? What was the condition of women ? How was toil regarded ? How were brides obtained ? How were children, the old,

and the sick treated ?

NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS.

character and the whim of his subjects. Each warrior was the equal of his fellows in the village. The wise men exercised some control by their experience, or their eloquence. There were no courts, no judges, no legal penalties: — there was no permanent property and no law. The redress of injuries was left to private vengeance and the interference of friends. War was declared by symbols — a belt painted red, a few arrows, or a bundle of bloody sticks. Peace was confirmed by the exchange of presents, the burial of the hatchet, and by smoking the calumet, or pipe of peace.

9. Letters and the art of writing were unknown to the natives of America. It was only after long contact with civilized people that the Cherokee, Sequoyah (se-Jcwoi'a A), or George Guess, invented (1827) signs for the sounds of his own speech. Pictorial emblems, however, were used to convey information, or to perpetuate the memory of important events.

10. Such were the savages who made war upon the European settlers. Their animosity was usually provoked by injury and injustice; but their vengeance was ferocious and undiscriminating. They might harass or destroy an infant colony, or an outpost on the verge of the wilderness; they might inflict horrible woes on small and scattered communities, but they could not effectually resist societies which had acquired consistency and strength. They have melted away before the advancing steps of the pale-faces ; and, to the next generation, the story of the Indians may be the legend of an extinct race.

6. What divinities were acknowledged? To which was worship rendered? What sacrifices were offered ? How were seers and prophets commissioned? What were the duties of the Medicine-Man ?

7. How was death regarded ? How were the dead furnished for their future life and journey?

8. What wa^ the character of Indian government? How was the tribe controlled? What protection against wrong? How was war declared? How was peace confirmed ?

9. Were the Indians acquainted with letters? Who invented signs for Indian sounds ? What substitute for writing was employed ?

10. How was the Indian hostility usually provoked? Under what circumstances was it dangerous? What has been the fortune of the Indians ? and what is their probable destiny ?

PART L

DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF AMERICA,

CHAPTER I. The Discovery of America — 1492-1501

Summary,— 1. Legends of early discovery and settlement in America. 2. Portuguese adventure, and Christopher Columbus. 3. Discovery of America by Columbus. 4. Second and Third Voyages of Columbus. 5. Arrest of Columbuslast voyage, and death. 6. Discoveries of Ojeda, Pinzon, Cabral, and Cortcreal.

1. Dim traditions in the ancient time spoke of the Island of Atlantis and the mainland of Antilia, far in the western seas. These have sometimes been received as proof that America had been visited by the Phoenicians. Still more fabulous is the report of an expedition to its shores, conducted by the Welsh prince Madoc (11 70). It is more credible that the Icelanders and Norwegians settled Greenland and the neighboring coasts about the end of the tenth century (970-1001). But America was wholly unknown to the civilized nations of Europe w^hen the fifteenth century was drawing to a close.

2. Throughout that century maritime adventures had been eagerly and brilliantly pursued by the Portuguese. Accident brought to Lisbon, the capital of their kingdom, Christopher Columbus, a Genoese navigator, already of high repute (1470). He became convinced that the shortest route to India might be found by sailing westward across the Atlantic Ocean. He applied to many States and Princes for

1. Was America known to the ancients ? What traditions existed ? Who is said to have led a Welsh colony to America ? What other people are said to have settled there ? Was America known to Europe toward the end of the fifteenth century ?

2. Where had maritime adventure been actively pursued ? What eminent seaman arrived at Lisbon ? What conviction did he reach ? What success attended his endeavors to carry this belief into effect? How was he enabled to execute his design?

1492.] DISCOVERY AND COLONIZATION OF AMERICA. 17

means to execute his design. He met with sore disappointments ; but, at length, Queen Isabella of Castile sanctioned and assisted his projects (17 April, 1492).

COLUMBUS.

3. With three small vessels Columbus sailed from Palos, in Spain (3 Aug., 1492). Land was discovered after weeks of trial and sinking hope (12 Oct.) It was the Island of Guanahani (gwah-na-hah'nee), or San Salvador. Columbus erected the cross, planted the banner of Castile, and took possession of the New World in the name of Queen Isabella. The ornaments of gold worn by the natives tempted him to cruise in quest of the gold regions. He discovered Cuba,

3. Where did he Fail from? When did he first discover land ? For whom did he claim the New World ? What other discoveries did he make ?

V which he took to be Japan, and Hayti (ha'tee), which he named Hispaniola, or Little Spain.

4. On a second voyage (1493-4) Columbus discovered Dominica (dom-in-ee 'ca) , Porto Rico (ree-co), Jamaica (jamd'ca), and other strange islands. A settlement was made in Hayti. On a third voyage (1498) he arrived at the Island of Trinidad and the mouth of the Orinoco (o-rin-o'co). The size of the river indicated a continent, which was thought to be Asia, In the previous year John and Sebastian Cabot, sailing under a commission from Henry VII. of England, had discovered the mainland of North America.

5. After Columbus had spent two years in the government of the New World, he was arrested and sent home in chains (17 Dec, 1500). '* He was released on reaching Spain, but

was not restored to his dignities.

His only subsequent employment was the command of four crazy vessels, with which he sought a passage through the Gulf of Mexico to India and China (1502-1504).

He died at Valladolid (20 May, 1506) with the simple piety which had marked his life.

4. What islands did he discover on his second voyage ? When did he arrive on his third voyage? Why was the country thought to be a continent ? What continent was it taken for ? Who had discovered North America ?

5. How was Columbus mistreated? What was his only other expedition? For what purpose ? When did he die ?

SPANISH DISCOVERY AND SETTLEMENT.

6. The knowledge of the American shores had been largely extended by other explorers. Venezuela (yen-e-zwee'la) had been visited by Ojeda (o-hatha) (1499), who was accompanied by the Florentine, Amerigo Vespucci (ves-poot'chee), from whom America has received its name. In the following year, Vincent Pinzon (pin'thon) discovered the Great River of the Amazons (13 Jan., 1500). Two months later * (March) Cabral, sailing far to the west on his way from Lisbon to India, unexpectedly encountered Brazil, and added that immense and rich empire to the Portuguese Crown. Cortereal (cor-td-rd 'al), another Portuguese, made a hasty voyage to Canada (1500-1501), but was lost on the renewal of his enterprise. Early in the opening century, the cod-fisheries of Newfoundland had attracted the mariners of France, Spain, Portugal, and England.

CHAPTER II. Progress of Spanish Discovery and Settlement

Summary, — 1 . Progress of exploration and settlement. Ponce de Leon, Porto Rico, and Florida. 2. Balboa— first sight of the Pacific Ocean. 3. Conquest of Peru, and Mexico. 4. Cortez explores the Gulf of California. 5. Explorations in other parts. Cabeza de Vaca crosses the Continent. 6. De Soto discovers and crosses the Mississippi. 7. Coronado in New Mexico and Texas. 8. Close of the Spanish explorations.

1. European colonization in the New World commenced with the foundation of St. Domingo by Bartholomew Columbus (1496). The hope of obtaining gold stimulated explorations. It tempted Ponce de Leon (pon'thd dd let! on) to make the conquest of Porto Rico (1508). He had acquired wealth, but age had overtaken him. When deprived of his government, he sailed to seek " the Fountain of Youth," a

6. How had the knowledge of America been extended ? Who had visited Venezuela ? From whom did America derive its name ? Who discovered the Amazon river ? By whom was Brazil discovered ? and how ? Whither did Cortereal sail ? What became of him ? What nations engaged early in the cod-fisheries of Newfoundland?

1. How did European colonization commence? What encouraged exploration? What, conquest was made by Ponce de Leon ? What did he seek m his old age ? Where did he reach the coast ? What name did he give it ? and why ?

HIS TOBY OF THE UNITED STATES.

miraculous spring of which he had heard (1512). He reached the coast opposite the Bahamas (ba-hah 'mas) , and named it Florida, either from the abundance of its flowers, or from Palm Sunday (Pascua Florida), the day on which he landed. He did not find any cure for old age.

2. Vasco Nunez (uooriyeth) di Balboa had established himself on the Isthmus of Darien. He set out for the gold countries of the south, in company with Francis Pizarro, and was gratified with the first sight of the Pacific Ocean (25 Sept., 1513). It thus seemed to be proved that America was a continent distinct from Asia.

3. The projects of Balboa were carried out by Pizarro and Diego de Almagro (de-a'go da ahl-mah'gro) (1529), who overthrew the Incas of Peru, and conquered their empire. This conquest had been preceded by that of Mexico, an enterprise of greater difficulty, if not of greater daring. The civilization of Mexico was superior to any attained elsewmere in North America; but European arms and European arts prevailed over the numbers of a half-civilized and divided empire. In three brilliant campaigns (1519-21), Fernando Cortez (ccVtez), a soldier of noble birth, of high talents, and of great daring and energy, subjected the dominions of Mexico to the Spanish sceptre.

4. As soon as the Spanish rule was confirmed, expeditions were sent out to explore the vast territory w T hich had been acquired. Some of these reached the Pacific Ocean. Cortez himself, in the last years of his government, examined the Gulf of California (1536).