The period of discovery

Foreword

That the introduction to the study of history should be chielly biographical and in story form, is a sound principle which has received the approval of many leading educational authorities and has been accepted widely as correct pedagogical practice.

The authors of this reader have applied this principle in a skillful, concrete way and have made the work especially valuable and attractive to youthful readers. The boy characters give a vividness to the stories which could be secured in no other manner. The plan of combining the grade work in history and civics will be welcomed by teacliers who have long felt the need of such an arrangement.

Principal Public School 25.

The Bronx, New York City.

Preface

The American Historical Reader has been planned on lines of advanced psychology to meet the requirements of the fifth year in the study of history and civics.

The authors have designed the book to meet the new conditions in the course of study. The stories which are told in easy, fictional form inculcate the essentials of history and civics for the fifth year. In addition, the verse which has been quoted teaches the required ethical lessons of the grade and makes the book more interesting to the pupil. Up to the present, this feature which is of great value, has been neglected in the historical readers written for public schools. The volume, therefore, has the threefold advantage of meeting in the most interesting manner, the requirements in history, civics, and ethical lessons.

While the stories are in the form of fiction, they are based strictly upon fact and are shaped as closely to the actual as diligent and careful research could accomplish. The most accurate writings form the basis of the stories and the matter for the description of character, dress, and customs, has been drawn from the most reliable sources.

The Reader conforms closely with the latest revision of the course in history and is also in accord with the New York State Regents' Syllabtts of History.

PREFACE

The authors wish to extend thanks to Dr. Frank A. Young, whose advice and suggestion shaped the plan and scope of our work and to Miss Katherine Richardson, who rendered great assistance in the reading and correction of the manuscript.

Contents

TART I

AAIERTCAN HISTORY

PAGE