A compendium of the history of the United States from the earliest settlements to 1872.

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Introduction

1. It is the purpose of the author of this work to give to the Youth of the country, as well as general readers, a condensed History of the United States of America ; embracing all important facts connected with the discovery and early occupation of the country, within their limits, by immigrants from other lands ; together with the facts attending the formation of their Governments, and the establishment of those free institutions which have so marked, as well as distinguished them, among the nations of the earth.

2. In the prosecution of this design, the first object will be, after a brief presentation of the facts attending the discovery of the continent of America, to trace, during their Colonial condition, the History of each one of the separate political Communities known as British Colonies thereon, wliich afterwards became united under the style of the United States of America, and then to trace the History of these States, so united under their existing Union, down to the present time.

3. The first part of the work will be the History of the Colonies ; the second part will be the History of the States. With this view, for proper system, the work will be divided into tAVo Books.

1 . What is stated to be the purpose of the Author in preparing this Historj' ?

2. In the prosecution of the design, what will be the first object ? What th& second ?

3. What will be the First Part of the worlc? What the Second ? How many Parts will the work be divided into, and what will they be called? What will Book I. treat of ? What will Book II. treat of ?

4 IKTKODUCTIOX.

Book I. will treat of the discovery, the early settlement, and colonization of the country by the ancestors of the present inhabitants, and the events which led to the assumption of sovereign or absolute self-governing powers by the respective Colonies.

Book 11. will treat of the achievement and establishment of their independence as States, and their subsequent career under their present Federal Union.

HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES,

BOOK FIEST.

Chapter I. The Discovert Of America

1. America, including what is styled South and North America, and which is sometimes called the Western Continent, was not generally known to the peoi^le of Europe nntil the year of our Lord 1492, when it was discovered by Christopher Columbus, a native of Genoa, one of the cities of Italy.

Some Norwegians and Icelanders, at an earlier period, had discovered Greenland and the northern portions of North America, as far south, it is supposed by some, as Massachusetts Bay, to which region they gave the name of Vinland.

2. But their discoveries had been forgotten, and the knowledge of this Hemisphere had been lost to men of

1. What does the general name of America i n chide ? What is it sometimes called ? In wliat ytar Ava>f it discovered ? By whom ? What is said of the Norwej^ians and Icelanders ?

2. To whom does the glory of the discovery properly belong ?

6 THE DISCOVERT OF AMERICA. [BOOK I.

letters on the Eastern Continent long prior to the discovery by Colnmbns; to him, therefore, justly belongs the glory of having discovered the Western World.

3. Cokimbus was a navigator, and supposed that India, which was known to be in the East, could be reached by sailing due west, without doubling the Cape of Good Hope, at the southern extremity of Africa. From observations of the earth's shadow on the moon during eclipses, as well as from other considerations, he, with others, had come to the conclusion that the earth was round ; and hence he reasoned that by sailing due west he must ultimately reach some land beyond the western sea. Other facts of a different character also excited him to undertake a western exploration. Driftwood floating from the west was sometimes thrown upon the coasts of the Madeiras, and the dead bodies of two men of an unknown race had also been found upon the coast.

4. The East Indies, from the earliest ages, had been a mine of wealth to the more western nations, but the overland journey was long and toilsome, and attended with many difficulties and dangers, and at this period it had become a favorite project of Europeans to discover a direct passage by sea. It was more with a view of opening up this new route to India that Columbus set out on his voyage of exploration, than with any idea of discovering a new continent.

5. For aid in the prosecution of his enterprise, he first made application to the government of Genoa, his native place; failing in this, he applied to John II., king of Portugal King John seems to have amused him and detained him at his court for some time, while he privately fitted out an enterprise, which was intended to forestall his undertaking, and deprive him of the glory of the

3. What, made Columbus think the earth was round ? The earth being round, what did his reason teach him ?

4. What is said of the East Indies ? What was the object of Columbus ?

5. Of what city and country was Columbus a native ? To whom did he first apply for assistance ? To whom next ? Uow was he treated by King John ?

Chap. I.] The Discovery Of America. 7

achievement. On the discoYery of this fact Columbus left Portugal in disgust.

6. About this period he sent his brother, Bartholomew Columbus, to the court of Henry VII., king of England, but so many delays occurred that the discovery of the AYesfc Indies had actually been made before the king gave a favorable answer to his application.

7. In 1486 he applied for aid to Isabella, queen of Arragon. The war that the united kingdoms of Castile and Arragon, under the dominion of Ferdinand and Isabella, had long waged against the Moors of Granada, was drawing to a close. Soon after its close, he was invited by the queen to her presence. He was received with distinguished favor, and a favorable answer was given to his application.

8. His demands " that he should be appointed admiral of all the seas which he might explore, and governor of all the continents and islands which he might visit; that these offices should be hereditary in his fiimily; and that the tenth of everything bought, bartered, found, or got within the bounds of his admiralship, abating only the charge of the conquest, sliould be settled upon him, and should descend to his heirs in case of his death," were agreed to ; and a fleet of three vessels, properly manned and equipped, was placed under his command. These vessels were victualled for twelve months, and had on board ninety mariners, besides several adventurers and servants, amounting in all to one hundred and twenty persons. The whole cost of the expedition was about twenty thousand dollars.

9. The names of the three vessels were the Maria, the Pinta, and the Nina. Of these the Maria was the largest ; and in this vessel Columbus himself sailed. The Pint a was commanded by Martin Alonzo Pinzon, and the

6. What is said of his application to the King of Enirland ?

7. To whom did he apply in 148rt ? How was he received ?

8. What were his demands ? Were they airreed to ? How many vessels were furnished him ? What was the cost of the expedition ?

9. What were the names of the vessels ? From what port did they sail ? On •what day ?

S THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. [BOOK I.

Nina by his brother, Vincent Yanez Pinzon. They sailed from Palos, a port in Spain, on the morning of Friday, the 3d of August, 1492. In three days they came in sight of the Canaries. Here they were detained several weeks on account of iujuries received by the Pinta. Columbus endeavored to jDrocure another vessel in place of the Pinta, but was unable to do so. The repairs were completed at length, and on the 6th of September, from Gomera, one of the Canaries, these three small vessels boldly sailed westward over a trackless and unknown sea.

10. On the 13th of September, Avhen far from land, as they supposed, the sailors were much alarmed by discovering the variation of the needle of the compass, a phenomenon which had not been observed before. Though Columbus himself did not understand the cause of the variation, yet he invented some plausible reason for it, and succeeded in calming their fears and in reconciling them to the continuance of their course westward. But their fears of never again seeing land soon overmastered them and caused great discontent, which broke out in loud murmurs and mutinous threats of forcing the admiral to return. It was with great difficulty that he could retain his ascendancy over them ; and at length he yielded so far to their importunities as to promise that, if there were no signs of land within three days, he would return to the East.

11. Before the three days expired many signs of land began to appear ; flocks of strange birds were observed ; the sea became more shallow, and pieces of floating timber were seen. On the night of the 11th of October, Columbus himself saw a light, moving as if borne in the hand of some person, which he considered as evidence, not only of the nearness of land, but also that the land was inhabited. At tAvo o'clock on the morning of the 12tli a gun was fired by

10. What alarmed the sailor?^ on the 13th of September ? Had this variation ever been observed before ': How did Cohimbus account for it ? What threats did the sailors make ? What did Cohimbus do then ?

1 1. What occurred before the three days expired ? W^hen was land first discovered? What land was it ? How did Columbue name it?

CHAP. I.J THE DIKCOVEKY OF AMEIIICA. 9

the Pinfa, as a token that land was in sight. The land proved to be one of the Bahama islands, called by the natives Gu-an-a-han'-i, or Oat Island, named by Columbus San Salvador, which, in English, means the Holy Saviour.

LANDING OF COLU.MBUS.

12. The landing, which took place on the morning of the 12th of October, 1492, was accompanied with every demonstration of gratitude and joy. Oolumbus, richly dressed in a scarlet uniform, and bearing the royal standard of Spain, Avas the first to land and press his foot upon the new earth, of which he took possession for and in the name of Ferdinand and Isabella, sovereigns of Castile and Arragon. Then kneeling, he kissed the earth, and gave thanks to

12. When did the landing take place sion ? What is eaid of the Indians ?

In whose name did he take posses-

10 THE DISCOVERT OF AMERICA. [BOOK 1.

God for His goodness. Meantime the natives stood around filled with wonder and astonishment at the formidable appearance of these strange and wonderful men, whom they supposed to have descended from the sun; little thinking that these new-comers would soon be their destroyers.

13. Columbus afterwards discovered and touched at several other islands, amongst them Hispaniola and Cuba, all of which lie claimed for his sovereigns, and all of which he supposed to be parts of India. Hence, to these islands has been given the name of West Indies, and the Aborigines, or those then inhabiting both the islands and the conti nent, have received the general name of Indians.

14. Of the origin of these tribes or peoples nothing is known with certainty. The manner in which they crossed the Atlantic or the Pacific, and the period at which they arrived on the shores of America, are equally buried in obscurity. But it is evident that for many years, it may be for many ages, prior to the advent of Columbus, America had been occupied by these heretofore-unknown races. Some nations in the southern part of North America, and some also in South America, had built large cities and had attained to a considerable degree of civilization. But their civilization differed greatly in many respects from that of the East.

15. Many curious remains of ancient structures erected by the aborigines of America still exist. In deep forests, in places far remote from the habitations and cultivated fields of white men, the traveller will sometimes suddenly find himself in the presence of massive ruins, whose appearance indicates that they were first erected many centuries ago. Large forest-trees, several hundred years old, are sometimes found growing amongst and on these ruins.

13. Dill Columbus make further discoveries? What name did he give the Islands V What were the natives called ?

14. What is known of the origin of those tribes ? Had they been long iu America ? What is said of their civilization ?

15. What is said of ancient buildings found in forests i

CHAP. I.] THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. H

16. Perhaps the most liighly-civilized and enlightened of all the aboriginal Americans were the Aztecs, in Mexico, the inhabitants of Central America, and the people inhabiting the regions of Pern and Chili in Sonth America. In all these regions the Spaniards, who visited them after Columbus' discovery was known, found large cities, well and strongly fortified, with many thousand inhabitants, with large and spacious palaces, and with markets regularly supplied with all the necessaries of life, and with fine and elegant goods in great variety. Cortez, the celebrated warrior who penetrated and conquered Mexico, sometime afterwards, in a letter to the Emperor Charles V., says, Avriting of the city of Cholula : " The inhabitants are better clothed than any we have hitherto seen. People in easy circumstances wear cloaks above their dress; these cloaks difier from those of Africa, for they have pockets, though the cut, cloth, and fringes are the same. The environs of the city are very fertile and well cultivated. Almost all the fields may be ivaterecl ; and the city is much more heautifid than all those in Spain ; for it is well fortified and built on level ground. I can assure your highness, that from the top of a mosque I reckoned more than four hundred towers, all of mosques. The number of inhabitants is so great that there is not an inch of ground uncultivated."

17. The city of Mexico, which was the capital, exceeded Cholula in size, in population, and in the beauty and magnificence of its buildings. " The palace of Montezuma (the king) was so large a joile that it opened with thirty gates into as many different streets." The Aztecs, by which name the inhabitants of Mexico have been known in history, had made considerable progress in the arts of civilization. Their buildings, their paintings, and sculpture, WTre very remarkable in many respects.

16. Which nations were most hiijhly civilized? What is eaid of their markets ? What does Cortez sav of them ?

1 7. What is said of the city of Mexico ? Describe the Palace of Montezuma. What is said of the paintings and eculptures ?

12 THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. [BOOK I.

18. But the civilization of the inhabitants of Pern in South America was of a higher and more refined character than that of Mexico. The people were milder and gentler in their manners, and their religion did not possess the savage feature of offering human sacrifices to idols, as that of the Aztecs did. They had a tradition that about four hundred years before the arrival of the Spaniards in the country, Manco Capac, their first Inca, by which name their kings were called, a white man of wonderful knoAvledge, clothed in flowing garments, came amongst them from some unknow^n region, and taught them agriculture and many useful arts ; " to construct reservoirs and aqueducts; to make ploughs, harrows, and shoes for their own feet. His wife taught the women to spin, to weave, and to make, their own garments."

19. His descendants and successors pursued the same gentle policy, and over whatever territories their sway became extended, whether by conquest or otherwise, they taught the inhabitants " to plough, and manure, and cultivate the soil." They constructed numerous aqueducts, many miles in length, by which almost the Avhole country of Peru was watered, some relics and monuments of which remain unto this day.

20. The tribes of Indians in that portion of North America now known as the United States were possessed of but little knowledge ; their arts were very few ; their buildings were rude huts called wigwams, and agriculture was practised to a very limited extent. AVar and the chase were the favorite occupations of the men. Whatever labor was done was done by the wonien. They were ignorant of letters ; literature they had none, and their traditions were few and uncertain. But even these people dwelt not in unrelieved darkness. They were simple in their manners,

18. Describe the Peruvians. What tfadition did they have ? What did Manco Capac and his wife teach the people ?

19. What policy was pureued by the def?cendante of Capac ? What did they conptrnct ?

20. What is e^id of the Indians in tfee country Jiow knowTi as the United States ?

CHAP. I.J THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. 13

faithful to their word, grateful for kindness, and believed that, when they were taken awa}^ by death, they would go to happy hunting-grounds prepared by the Great Spirit.

21. Columbus, on his return to Spain, was received with distinguished honor by Ferdinand and Isabella. He afterwards made several voyages to the New World, planted colonies, and built cities and forts. On his third voyage he visited the continent of South America, and landed at several places on the coast of Cumana. The mainland of North America he never saw. But after all his great services to Spain; after having added a New World to the dominions of that country, it was his misfortune to meet with ill-treatment and injustice. He was superseded in his command, and, under a charge of high treason, was sent home in chains. The charges against him Avere not sustained, and he was set at liberty, but the remainder of his life seems to have been inactive and uneventfuL He died in obscurity and poverty at Val-la-do-lid', in Spain, on the 20th of May, 150G, in the 71st year of his age.

22. America was so called from Americus Yespucius, another navigator, who, after the report of Columbus' wonderful discovery had excited so much interest among the scientific men in Europe, set out on a new^ exploration, and made much more extensive discoveries than Columbus had. In 1499 he published a map of the coast and a description of the lands he had visited. His delineations of the coast were so accurate, and his descriptions of the countries were so vivid and so delightfully written, that, by the common consent of his contemporaries, the New World Avas called America.

21. How was Columbus received in Spain ? Did he make other voyaijes ? W^hat treatment did he receive after thit> ? What was he charged with ? Where did he die ? At what aije ?

23. From whom was America named ? And why ?

14 THE C0L02s"Y OF VIRGINIA. [BOOK I.

CHAPTER 11.

SETTLEMENT OF VIRGINIA. 1607—1609.

The first permanent British Settlement in America, at Jamestown.

1. It does not come within the scope and purpose of this work to set fortli tlie progress of the Spaniards and Portuguese in their conquest and occupation of the Southern portion of the continent. The history of tliat progress has very little to do with the history of the British colonies^ or of the United States.

What connection there may be will be noticed at the proper time.

It will suffice at present to state

viRoiNiA co.T or AKMs. ^^^^^ ^j^^ Spauiards extended their

conquests over Mexico, East and West Florida, Central America, nearly the whole of South America, except the Empii-e of Brazil, which was taken possession of by the Portuguese. It may interest the youthful reader to be told that Brazil is the only independent country or state on the Continent of America which is now governed by descendants of any of the royal families of Europe.

2. The French, at an early day after the discovery of America, made voyages to the JS^ew World, and planted many colonies and settlements. Nova Scotia, and all that region north of the River St. Lawrence now know^n as British America, were first occupied by them. They also planted the colony of Louisiana, and built the city of New Orleans, near the mouth of the Mississippi. From the

Chapter II.— 1. What naUons took possession of South America? What is said of Brazil ?

2. In what re2:ion did the French plant colonies ? "What was the consequence of the conflictiiitj claims of the French and English ? Upon what were the claims of Great Britain founded ?

Chap. Ii.] The Colony Of Yieginia. 15

conflicting claims of Great Britain and France to yast tracts of country, the colonists of both countries frequently suffered greatly, not only from wars between those two countries, but also from wars with the neighboring Indian tribes.

3. The claim of Great Britain to plant colonies in North America to the exclusion of others, was founded upon the right of priority of discoYery, which, by the general consent of nations, is regarded as good and valid. In the year 1497 John Cabot, a Venetian, in the service of Henry VII., King of England, discovered the mainland of North America, fourteen months before Columbus landed upon the mainland of South America. In the year 1498 the Cabots, father and son, John and Sebastian, explored the coast-line from Labrador as fur south as the Chesapeake Bay. And in 1517 Sebastian Cabot sailed up Hudson's Straits and Bay until he reached the sixty-seventh degree of North latitude; it being an object of the British Government, even at that early day, to And a northwest passage to India.

4. The first attempts of the English to plant colonies in North America failed. About the year 1578 an expedition, to which Queen Elizabeth contributed, was fitted out for Labrador, the object of which was to work the mines of gold which were supposed to abound in that region. The colony consisted of about one hundred settlers, but they were afraid to be left in that dreary region, and so returned without even an effort to accomplish anything. But the hopes of colonizing the country at some point were not abandoned. In 1578 a charter Avas granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, empowering him to take possession of extensive regions of country. Gilbert sailed for North America, but was compelled to return without accomplishing his purpose.

3. What discoveries were made by the Cabots ? What was the object of the Brilii-ih Government ?

4. What is said of the first attempts of the English to found colonies ?

16 THE COLONY OF VIEGIXIA. [bOOK 1.

5. A new expedition was fitted out in 1583 by Gilbert iind liis brother-in-law, Sir Walter Ealeigh, under the same charter. This time they went through the ceremony of taking possession, in the Queen's name, of the island of Newfoundland. On their return, Sir Humphrey Gilbert was drowned. Sir Walter Raleigh, not discouraged by the unfortunate termination of the former expeditions and the sad fate of Gilbert, determined on planting a colony further south. He obtained a grant or charter for colonizing all the country between the parallels of 33° and 45° north latitude, on the coast of North America. In honor of Elizabeth, the virgin Queen, in whose reign the charter was granted, and on account of the great beauty of the lands embraced in it, the name of Virginia Avas given to the. whole country covered by this patent. Some settlements were made by Raleigh, under this extensive grant, on the Roanoke in North Carolina in 1585-1587, but they were subsequently abandoned.

6. Though these first efforts at colonization failed, yet the spirit of adventure was kept alive, and the claim of the English, founded upon the discovery of Cabot, was not abandoned. It was, however, one hundred and fifteen years after the discovery of America by Columbus that the English succeeded in making their first permanent settlement on the continent. This was effected under the following circumstances and auspices. In 1606 James I., King of England, who had succeeded Elizabeth on the throne, divided the country embraced in the Gilbert and Raleigh charter into two districts. The northern district he granted by a new charter to a company organized in England, known as the Plymouth Company. The country embraced m this district was called North Virginia. The southern district was granted to another company organized in Eng-

5. What was accomplished by Sir Huinphrey Gilbert aiul Sir Walter Raleigh ? What was the extent of Sir Walter Raleigh's grant ? What was the country called, and why ?

6. How long after the discovery of America before the first permanent settle-

CHAP. II.] THE COLOXY OF YIRGIXIA.

land, known as the TiOndon Company. This district was called South A'irginia. South Virginia extended from Cape Fear to the Potomac ; North Virginia from the mouth of the Hudson Eiver to Newfoundland. The region between the Potomac and the Hudson Rivers was to be neutral ground, on which the companies were at liberty to form settlements within fifty miles of their respective boundaries. 7. By the London Company, so organized, the first English colony was firmly planted on the continent in the year 1G07, at Jamestown, on the Eiver James, in the present settle:ment at jame?town.

State of Virginia. The river was so called in honor of the King, James I. of England.

ment was made by the Endis^h ? How was it eftected ? What were the namea

of the two new companies ? How was the Ralei<,'h grant divided ? What

name was jiiven to each part ? ,. . . ^ , j , o ne

7. Where was the tirst colony planted ? What name did it take, and why ? Ut

18 THE COLON^y OF VIRGINIA. [BOOK I.

The colony took the general name of Virginia. The number of settlers consisted at first of one hundred and five persons. But few of them were laborers, and all were single, that is, unmarried men. The plan of government was set forth in the charter. The officers consisted of seven members of Council, viz., Bartholomew Gosnold (the navigator, who, in the year 1603, had visited and explored the shores of Massachusetts), John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Eatcliff, John Martin, and George Kendall. Mr. Wingfield was chosen president or governor.

8. The season after their arrival proved very sickly, and nearly half their number died before the cool weather set in. Among those that died was Bartholomew Gosnold, one of the ablest men of the Council. The native people, the savages, called Indians, as before stated, were numerous in the neighborhood, and were sometimes hostile. Captain Newport, who had command of the squadron in which the settlers had come over, after a short stay sailed for England, leaving the colony in a very feeble condition. Provisions were scarce, the water was bad, and many of tlie men were sick. To add to their misfortunes, they quarrelled among themselves. They excluded Captain Smith from the Council; deposed Mr. Wingfield, the president, and put Mr. Eatcliff in his place. Their condition rapidly grew worse, until they gave the management of their affiiirs to Captain Smith, whose great skill, capacity, and courage, soon restored harmony, brought order out of chaos, and laid the foundations of a permanent prosperity.

9. The government of the settlers, with the right to pass all laws, was vested in the members of the Council, who were appointed by the stockholders of the Company; the

what number did the first settlers consist ? What are the names of the first Council appointed ? Who was first president ?

8. What is said of the condition of the colony ? Who died ? What is said of the Indians ? Uow long did Captain Newport remain ? How did the colonists act ? How was harmony restored ?

9. What was the government of the colony at first ? What was the estab-

CHAP. III.] THE COLOKY OF YIRGIiNriA. 19

governor, or president, was also, according to the charter, appointed by the stockholders. Changes in these particulars soon followed, as we shall see. The religion of the Church of England was established as the religion of the colony, and the right of trial by jury was secured to all persons charged with murder, or other crimes which were punishable with death. There was no restriction on trade, lauds descended according to the common law, and permission, to coin money was granted to the colony.

CHAPTER HI.

THE COLOi^Y OF VIRGINIA — CONTINUED.

1609—1621.

Captain John Smith— Jamestown — Pocahontas — Arrival of Lord Delaware, etc.

1. Captain John Smith Avas born in Lincolnshire, in England, in the year of our Lord 1579. He Avas apprenticed to a merchant, but not liking the business, he ran away from his master and went to Ho'lland, where he enlisted as a soldier. After some time he went to Austria, which country Avas then at war Avith the Turks. He joined the Austrian army, and soon became distinguished for his great personal bravery and skill in single combat. He was rewarded for his services by a patent of nobility conferred upon him by the Duke of Transylvania.

2. After many singular adventures he was taken prisoner by the Turks nnd sold as a slave. He secured the favor of his mistress, and she, intending to do him a kindness, sent him to her brother, an officer in the Crimea, Avhich Avas