A history of the United States

Front matter

Class JIj.7^

CoiPglitH?^Z2A2-

COPflilGHT DEPOSm

Preface

The lamented death of President Adams entails on me the duty of writing the preface to our joint work, — a duty which, had he lived, would naturally have fallen to him, since to his initiative and energy the volume owes its existence* Fortunately, the entire manuscript had the benefit of his wisdom and experience as teacher and investigator, and the proofs of about half the book passed under his watchful supervision.

Five years ago, in a letter to me proposing the book. Dr. Adams gave, among his reasons for wishing to add to the long list of school histories of the United States, three principal objects : —

First, to present fully and with fairness the Southern point of view in the great controversies that long threatened to divide the Union.

Second, to treat the Revolutionary War, and the causes that led to it, impartially and with more regard for British contentions than has been usual among American writers.

Third, to emphasize the importance of the West in the growth and development of the United States.

These objects have been kept constantly in view. We felt, moreover, that the development of institutions and government may justly be considered of great importance, although naturally lacking in picturesqueness, and we have endeavored to set in relief this evolutionary process. How far we have succeeded in accomplishing the objects sought remains for others to judge.

Vi PREFACE.

I cannot forbear to place on record here my appreciation of the fortitude with which Dr. Adams bore his protracted sufferings and did his work ; of his conscientiousness in matters of minutest detail ; of his fairness and sympathy toward those with whom he did not agree, and of the unfailing courtesy that marked every line of his correspondence.

Acknowledgment is due to the highly competent services of Miss May Langdon White of New York, whom Dr. Adams selected to assist in the revision of the work.

W. P. TRENT.

Columbia University, New York, November, 1902.

Contents

PAGE

List of Maps xvi

List of Illustrations xvii

Chronological Table , xx

Part I. — Period Of Discovery And Settlement, 1492-1765. Chapter L— Discovery

SECTION

1- 3. The American Indians

4. Pre-Columbian Discoverers . . , .

14-16. The French Explorers

17-18. The English Explorers

19-20. Summary of Results

References .......

1 4

18 20 22 23

CHAPTER IL— THE FIRST PLANTATIONS AND COLONIES, 1607-1630.

21-28. The Settlement of Virginia . 29-30. The Settlement of New York 31-36. The Pilgrims at Plymouth . 37-38. The Settlement of Massachusetts References ....

24 29 31 34 36

CHAPTER in. —SPREAD OF PLANTATIONS, 1630-1689

39-41. The Settlement and Growth of Marj^land

42-45. Development of Virginia

46-52. Development of New England

53-60. The New England Confederacy .

61-7 L Development of the Middle Colonies

72-76. The Southern Colonies .

37 40 42 46 51 57 59 vii

Vlll

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IV.— THE COUNTRY AT THE END OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

77- 78. General Conditions .... 79- 84. Characteristics of New England 85- 86. Characteristics of the Middle Colonies 87- 90. Characteristics of the Southern Colonies References

60 61 65 66 68

CHAPTER V. — DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONIES, 1690-1765.

91- 94. Colonial Disputes , 69

96-97. Virginia and Georgia 71

98-100. French Discoveries and Claims ...... 73

Part II. — Period Of The Revolution, 1765-1789

CHAPTER VI. — CAUSES OF THE REVOLUTION.

117-120. General Causes 87

121-126. The Question of Taxation 91

127-132. The Resistance of the Colonies 93

133-135. The Tax on Tea ,98

136-139. New Legislation and Opposition 100

CHAPTER VIL— THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1775 AND 1776.

148-152. Washington in Command . 110

153-158. The War in New York . . ' 114

159-160. General Condition of the Country 118

161-162. Failure of British Expeditions 119

163-165. The Declaration of Independence 121

CHAPTER VIJI.— THE CAMPAIGN OF 1777.

CONTENTS. ix

CHAPTER IX.— THE FRENCH ALLIANCE AND THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1778 AND 1779.

SECTION PAGB

188-193. A Winter of Discouragement 144

194-198. Prospects Brighten 149

199-207. Conditions West of the Alleghanies 152

208-209. The Conquest of the Northwest 158

210-212. The Victories of Paul Jones 159

CHAPTER X.— THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1780 AND 1781.

213-214. The War in the South 162

215-220. The Treason of Benedict Arnold 164

221-223. Causes of Discouragement 167

224-228. American Successes in the South 168

229-237. The Close of the War 172

CHAPTER XL — THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION AND THE CONSTITUTION.

238-243. Difficulties of Confederation 178

PAET in. — THE ORGANIZATIOK OF POLITICAL PAKTIES, 1789-1825.

CHAPTER XIL — THE COUNTRY AT THE CLOSE OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

257-262. General Conditions 191

263-264. Spirit of the People 194

CHAPTER XIIL— THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF WASHINGTON, 1789-1797.

265-268. Early Legislation and Parties 196

269-274. Difficulties of Administration 200 k

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XIV. —THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN ADAMS, 1797-1801.

275-281. A Period of Dissensions ....... 206

CHAPTER XV. — THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF JEFFERSON, 1801-1809.

282-284. Jeffersonian Policy 211

296-297. Character of Jefferson's Statesmanship .... 222

CHAPTER XVI. — THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF MADISON, 1809-1817.

298-303. Outbreak of War 225

304-305. Exploits of the Navy . , 230

306-310. Reverses and Successes 234

313-315. The Disaffection of New England • 240

316-319. Consequences of the War 242

CHAPTER XVII. —THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF MONROE, 1817-1825.

320-322. Character of the Period 246

323-326. Diplomatic Achievements 247

327-331. Slavery comes to the Front 250

332-334. Factional Politics 254

PAET IV. — SPEEAD OF DEMOCRACY AND EXTENSION OF TERRITORY, 1825-1850.

CHAPTER XVIII.— THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHN QUINCY ADAMS, 1825-1829.

335-339. Failures of the Administration 267

340-342. The Tariff Question 260

CONTENTS. xi

CHAPTER XIX. — THE JACKSONIAN EPOCH, 1829-1837.

343-345, Political Conditions 263

CHAPTER XX.— JACKSON'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION,

1829-1833.

351-354. A Popular Autocrat 271

355-356. The Debate over the Nature of the Constitution . . 274

357-358. The Tariff and Nullification 278

CHAPTER XXI. —JACKSON'S SECOND ADMINISTRA- TION, 1833-1837.

CHAPTER XXII. — THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF VAN BUREN AND OF HARRISON AND TYLER, 1837-1845.

368-371. A Period of Confusion 288

372-373.' The Embarrassments of the Whigs 290

374-376. Texas and Oregon 293

CHAPTER XXIII.— THE ADMINISTRATION OF POLK, 1845-1849.

377-379. The Opening of the Mexican War 296

380-389. The Conduct and Results of the War . . . .299 References 304

PART v. — THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1850-1861.

CHAPTER XXIV. — THE ADMINISTRATION OF TAYLOR AND FILLMORE, 1849-1853.

390-394. The Question of California 305

395-400. The Compromise of 1850 308

401-404. International and Domestic Affairs 313

XU CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXV.— THE ADMINISTRATION OF PIERCE,

1853-1857.

405-410. The Confusion of Parties 317

411-415. Kansas-Nebraska Legislation ...... 320

416-417. The Republican Party 323

CHAPTER XXVI. — THE ADMINISTRATION OF BUCHANAN, 1857-1861.

418-422. The Supreme Court and Slavery 326

423-427. Kansas and Utah 329

428-431. The Great Debates 332

432-434. John Brown and Public Opinion 336

PART VI. — THE CIVIL WAR AND RECON- STRUCTION, 1861-1869.

CHAPTER XXVII. —THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CIVIL WAR.

450-453. Opening of Hostilities 353

454-458. Military and Financial Strength of the Combatants . . 357

459-461. Description of the Seat of War 360

462-465. Domestic and Foreign Complications .... 362

466-471. Military Movements of 1861 365

472-474. International Difficulties 369

CHAPTER XXVIIL— THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1862.

499-502. Public Feeling in the North and Great Britain . . .394

507-513. Domestic and Foreign Effects of the Campaigns of 1862 . 402

CONTENTS. xiii

CHAPTER XXIX.— THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1868.

6B0TI0N

PAGE

618-522. The Chattanooga Campaign 411

523-525. The Eastern Campaigns 414

526-529. Embarrassment of the Federal Government . . . 419

CHAPTER XXX.— THE CAMPAIGNS OF 1864.

530-533. Grant and Lee in Virginia 422

534-538. Sherman's Campaigns 426

539-541. Naval Victories 430

CHAPTER XXXI.— END OF THE WAR, 1865.

547-551. Movements of Sherman and Grant 436

552-554. The Death of President Lincoln 440

665-561. The Magnitude of the War 441

CHAPTER XXXII. —THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOHNSON: RECONSTRUCTION, 1865-1869.

574-576. Effects of Reconstruction 462

677-580. Johnson and Congress 464

PART VII. — PERIOD OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, 1869-1902.

CHAPTER XXXIII. —THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF GRANT, 1869-1877.

581-688. Grant's First Administration, 1869-1873 . . . .468 589-595. Grant's Second Administration, 1873-1877 . . .463

696-599. Party Politics 468 xiv CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XXXIV.— THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF HAYES AND OF GARFIELD AND ARTHUR, 1877-1885.

600-603. Industrial Problems 473

604-605. Financial Problems 475

610^13. Chief Features of Arthur's Administration . . . 480

614-617. Political Events 483

CHAPTER XXXV. — FIRST ADMINISTRATION OF CLEVELAND, 1885-1889.

620-623. Important Measures and Reforms 488

624-628. Industrial and Financial Disturbances .... 491

CHAPTER XXXVI. —THE ADMINISTRATION OF BENJAMIN HARRISON, 1889-1893.

629-638. Domestic Events and Measures 495

CHAPTER XXXVIL— SECOND ADMINISTRATION OF CLEVELAND, 1893-1897.

644-649. Financial Legislation 504

652-655. Domestic Events 510

CHAPTER XXXVin. — THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF McKINLEY AND ROOSEVELT, 1897-1909.

656-657. The Beginning of McKinley's Administration . . . 514

671-676. Consequences of the War 624

677-681. The Close of McKinley's First Administration . , .527

682-683. McKinley's Second Administration 531

CONTENTS. XV

CHAPTER XXXIX. —THE ADMINISTRATION OF TAFT, AND THE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT, 1909-1913.

701-706. The Tariff and the Progressive Movement . . . 549

707-711. The Political Situation, 1910-1912 554