Students' history of the United States

Preface

As an elementary text book on United States History, the author, in the preparation of this hook has endeavored to use language which is clear and concise, yet simple, to such an extenl that he hopes it will appeal to the reader. Teachers have for some time recognized the fact that the greatest evil of modern education is the waste of brain energy without an adequate result in intellectual development, and. experience has taught that in no study is this more true than in the study of history. It has therefore been the object, in the preparation of this book, to remove all such obstacles, yet at the same time to furnish material sufficient for the cultivation and development of the faculties of Observation, Imagination, Reasoning, Judgment, and Memory, as well as Presentation.

In the grouping of historical events into series, the history of a country naturally divides itself into epochs, each epoch characterized by similar conditions, which cause it to appear to the student as a unit. In this book the following order will be observed :

Prediscovery Conditions, Period of Exploration, Period of Colonization, Period of the Revolution and The Confederation, Neutrality and Commercial Independence, the Thirty Years Peace, Slavery and the Great Civil War, the Period of Reconstruction, and the Period of Expansion.

In presenting the subject from this text, the teacher will stimulate interest and aid students much in their understanding of the subject, if this division is carefully pursued.

The old method of teaching literature and history, as separate branches, is passing away, because it leaves the student without any sense of relation in the two studies. The remedy is sought in a happy compromise. The names of our persons of literary fame are placed as nearly as possible in the time they began to write, while citations are made frequently to their works in the footnotes. Reviews of these books should be given in the lessons in which they appear. It is hoped by this means to cultivate in the child a desire for good literature.

6 PREFACE

Especial attention is called to the cross references given to all important subjects, the map references given at the beginning of each section, and the notes which will be found invaluable in research or source work.

Expressions of gratitude are due to instructors, students, and friends for their great aid in many timely suggestions. The faults are doubtless many, but it is hoped that, in spite of them, the following pages may be of some real service in the study of the history and literature of our country.

A. B. A.

Marion, Iowa, 1912

Table Of Contents

Pre-Discovery Conditions

Causes Leading to the Discovery of America . . 9

Exploration by the Spanish ..... 16

Contents

Neutrality and Commercial Independence

Administration of George Washington . . . . ]89

Administration of John Adams ..... 201