A history of the United States of America : on a plan adapted to the capacity of youth : and designed to aid the memory by systematic arrangement and interesting associations

Front matter

Class _

Book

Copightl^".

Index To Maps

No. 1, MEXICO, GUATIMALA, AND WEST INDIA ISLANDS, . faces p. 14

No. 2, EASTERN STATES, » « 36

No. 3, CANADA, NEWFOUNDLAND, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA

SCOTIA, &c " " 66

No. 4, mDDLE STATES, " "134

No. 5, SOUTHERN AND WESTEllN STATES, " "172

BOSTON.

Preface

The School History herewith presented to the public has undergone such alterations as nearly to justify the announcement of it as a new work. The original division into periods, however, has been retained ; the experience of teachers, for more than twenty years, having decided that, in this respect, it scarcely admits of improvement. And, in confirmation of the correctness of this judgment, it may be stated that every School History of the United States, published since the date of Goodrich's first edition, has been written, without exception, it is believed, upon the same general plan ; and, in some instances, so nearly identical with his, as in the estimation of some to justify a question of legality.

The following are the principal alterations and improvements now introduced :

1. Upon the recommendation of an experienced teacher, the two sizes of type used in former editions are dispensed with ; and all matters by way of explanation, or in respect to which simply reading is deemed sufficient, are reduced to notes.

2. The individual and separate history of the several colonies founded prior to the " French and Indian War,'' declared in 1756, is given to that period ; and thence unitedly, as their histories from that time naturally blend together.

3. As to chronology, the New Style has been adopted in relation to all events prior to 1751, the time when the English Parliament adopted the Gregorian reformation.

4. A manifest improvement the author thinks he has made in his mode of treating the several administrations ; namely, by giving the pupil an early and distinct enumeration of the principal events by which each one was distinguished.

5. The author anticipates the approbation of intelligent and experienced teachers for one feature of the work, if for no other, — the omission of minor events, which would serve to embarrass and discourage the pupil, while an attempt is made to give due prominence to such events as are of obvious importance, and which should be firmly riveted in the memory. This want of discrimination has often sadly marred our historical school-books.

6. A series of questions is now appended to the volume. It is scarcely necessary to add — what every author has found a source of no small perplexity — that, in regard to the date of numerous events in our history, authorities differ, and so widely, sometimes, as to render it difficult, if not impossible, to determine the precise truth. Should positive errors be discovered, the author wiU esteem it a favor to be informed, that the needful corrections may

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