The colonies, 1492-1750

Front matter

Qass.

Book.

Epochs of American History

Author's Preface

Upon no epoch of American history has so much been written, from every point of view, as upon the Thirteen Colonies. There has, nevertheless, been lacking a book devoted especially to it, compact in form, yet sufficiently comprehensive in scope at once to serve as a text-book for class use and for general reading and reference. The present work is intended to meet that want.

In this book American colonization is considered in the hght of general colonization as a phase of history. Englishmen in planting colonies in America brought with them the institutions with which they had been famihar at home : it is shown what these institutions were, and how, in adapting themselves to new conditions of growth, they differed from English models. As prominent among the changed conditions, the physical geography of America and its aboriginal inhabitants receive somewhat extended treatment ; and it is sought to explain the important effect these had upon the character of the settlers and the development of the country. The social and economic condition of the people is described, and attention is paid to the political characteristics of the several colonies both in the conduct of their local affairs and in their relations with each other and the viii Author's Preface.

mother-country. It is shown that the causes of the Revolution were deep-seated in colonial history. Attention is also called to the fact, generally overlooked, that the thirteen mainland colonies which revolted in 1776 were not all of the English colonial establishments in America.

From Dr. Frederick J. Turner, of the University of Wisconsin, I have had much advice and assistance throughout the prosecution of the work ; Dr. Edward Channing, of Harvard College, has kindly revised the proof-sheets and made many valuable suggestions ; while Dr. Samuel A. Green, librarian of the Massachusetts Historical Society, has generously done similar service on the chapters referring to New England. To all of these gentlemen, each professionally expert in certain branches of the subject, I tender most cordial thanks. REUBEN GOLD THWAITES.

Madison, Wis., December i, 1890.

Preface To Twenty-second Edition

From time to time there have been several revisions of the text, so that it has been kept fairly abreast of current investigation. The bibliographies, however, have remained untouched since the tenth edition (August, 1897). The principal change in the present, therefore, consists in the introduction of new and carefully prepared references, which will render the book of greater service to the student than it has been at any time within the past ten years. In this revision, I have had the valuable assistance of Miss Annie A. Nunns.

R. G. THWAITES.

Madison, Wis., June i, 1910.

SUGGESTIONS.

While this volume is intended to be complete in itself, compression has been necessary in order to make it conform to the series in which it appears. It really is but an outline of the subject, a centre from which to start upon a study of the American colonies. The reader, especially the teacher, who would acquire a fairly complete knowledge of this interesting period of our history, will need to examine many other volumes ; from them gaining not only further information, but the point of view of other authors than the present — only in this manner may an historical perspective be obtained. The classified bibliographies, given by the author at the head of each chapter, have been prepared with much care. While perhaps few will desire to follow the topics to the lengths there suggested, it is urged that as many of the other volumes as possible be consulted, particularly those containing source material.

Following is a hst of books which, even for a brief study, would be desirable for reference and comparison, or for the preparation of topics :

1-5. John Andrew Doyle: English Colonies in America. 5 vols. New York : H. Holt & Co., 1882-1907. — An analytical study, in much detail, by an English author.

6-13. John Fiske: Beginnings of New England; The Discovery of America^ 2 vols.; Dutch and Quaker Colonies in

X SiLggestio7is for Readers a7id Teachers,

America, 2 vols. ; N'ew France and New England ; Old Virginia and her Neighbours, 2 vols. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1897-1902. — The best popular accounts; but while eminently readable and inspiring, not sufficiently thorough at all points, to serve as authoritative studies.

14. Henry Cabot Lodge: Short History of the English Colonies in America. New York : Harper Brothers Co., 188 1. — Concise and readable.

15-17. Herbert Levi Osgood: American Colonies in the jyth Century. 3 vols. New York : The Macmillan Co., 1904- 1907. — The most elaborate treatment of this period, from the American point of view.

If a detailed study is intended, the following volumes should be added to the foregoing :

A. Bibliography.

1. Edward Channing and Albert Bushnell Hart : A Guide to the Study of American History. Boston: Ginn & Co., 1896. — A well-arranged manual for both students and general readers.

2. Josephus Nelson Larned: Literature of American History. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1902. — More detailed than the foregoing. Contains critical estimates of many of the works cited, by experts in the several subjects.

B. General,

3-5. Elroy McKendree Avery : A History of the United States and its People from their Earliest Records to the Present Time. 15 vols. Cleveland: Burrows Brothers Co., 1904 +. — Volumes I.-HI. cover the colonial period. Especially notable for its illustrations — for the most part, reproductions of contemporary views, maps, portraits, and articles of historical interest. The bibliographies are quite full.

List of Reference Books. xi

6, 7. Edward Channing: A History of the United States. 8 vols. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1905 -j-- — A calm, philosophical treatise, written with care and erudition.

8-13. Albert Bushnell Hart, Editor : The American N'atioii. New York: Harper Brothers Co., 1904-1907. — The latest co-operative history of the United States. Each volume is by an author who specializes in the topic treated. Vols. II.-VII. are concerned with the colonial period. The bibliographical chapters are very useful.

14, 15. WooDROW Wilson : A History of the American People. 5 vols. New York: Harper Brothers Co., 1902. — Popular and readable, often brilliant. Only vols. I. and II. cover the colonial period.

16-20. Justin Winsor : Narrative and Critical History of America. 8 vols. Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1889. — A co-operative enterprise, the chapters being by different hands, for the most part specialists. There is a wealth of illustrations, notes, and bibliographical references. But much of the work has been superseded by later publications. Vols. I.-V. cover the colonial period.

C. Special Histories.

21, 22. Philip Alexander Bruce: Economic History of Virginia in the lyth Century. 2 vols. New York : The Macmillan Co., 1896. — A careful, detailed study.

23. Philip Alexander Bruce : Social Life of Virginia i?t the jjth Ceittury. Richmond : Whittet & Shepperson, 1907. — Thorough and clear.

24, 25. Sydney George Fisher : Men, Women, and Majtners in Colonial Times. 2 vols. Philadelphia : J. B. Lippincott Co., 1898. — A readable and useful survey.

26. Frederick Webb Hodge : Handbook of American Indians north of Mexico. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1907. — The author, a member of the Ethnological Bureau, is an authority on this subject.

xii Suggestions for Readers and Teachers.

27-38. Francis Parkman : France and Etiglandin North America. 12 vols. Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1851-1892. The titles of volumes comprising this series are : Pioneers of France in the New World ; The Jesuits in North America ; La Salle and the Discovery of the Great West ; The Old Regime in Canada ; Count Frontenac and New France ; A Half- Century of Conflict, 2 vols.; Montcalm and Wolfe, 2 vols. ; The Conspiracy of Pontiac, 2 vols. — In spite of its age, this work remains the principal authority for the thrilling story of New France. A first-hand study, written in fascinating style.

39. Ellen Churchill Semple: American History and its Geographic Conditions, Boston : Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1903. — Of first importance in understanding the causes and effects of the movements of population.

40. Cyrus Thomas : The Indians of North America in Historic Times. Philadelphia: G. Barrie & Sons, 1903. — The latest compendious treatment ; somewhat repellent in style, but useful for reference. The author is a well-known authority.

41,42. William Babcock Weeden : Economic and Social History of New England, idso-ijSg. 2 vols. Boston. Houghton, Mifflin & Co., 1890. — An admirably executed work.

D. Sources.

43,44. Albert Bushnell Hart, Editor: American History Told by Contemporaries. 4 vols. New York : The Macmillan Co., 1897, 1898. — Very useful for purposes of illustration. Vols. I., II., are devoted to colonial material.

45-64. John Franklin Jameson, Editor : Original Narratives of Early American History. 20 vols. New York : Charles Scribner's Sons, 1906 + . — Carefully edited, and indispensable for first-hand study.

65 William MacDonald, Editor : Docnnientary Source Book of American History, i6o6-i8g8. New York: The Mac-

List of Refe7'e7ice Books. xiii

millan Co., 1908. — Useful reprints of material otherwise difficult to obtain.

In addition to the above, the publications of colonial and town record commissions and state and local historical and antiquarian societies contain material of the utmost value in the study of our colonial history. Among them may especially be mentioned the volumes issued by the Prince Society, Gorges Society, American Antiquarian Society, and the state historical societies of Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia; also the colonial records of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and North and South Carolina.

Chapter I. The Land And The Native Races

PAGES

I. References, p. i. — 2. Physical characteristics of North America, p. 2. — 3. The native races, p. 7. — 4. Characteristics of the Indian, p. 13. — 5. Relations of the Indians and colonists, p. 17 1-19

CHAPTER 11.

DISCOVERIES AND EARLY SETTLEMENTS (1492-1606).

6. References, p. 20. — 7. Pre-Columbian discoveries, p. 21.

— 8. Early European discoveries (1492-1512), p. 23.

— 9. Spanish exploration of the interior (1513-1542), p. 27. — 10. Spanish colonies {1492-1687), p. 31. — II. The French in North America { 1 524-1 550), p. 32.

— 12. French attempts to colonize Florida (1562- 1568), p. 33. — 13 The French in Canada (1589- 1608), p. 35. — 14. English exploration (1498-1584), p. 36. — 15. English attempts to colonize {1584- 1606), p. 38. — 16. The experience of the sixteenth century (1492-1606), p. 42 20-44

Chapter III. Colonization And The Colonists

17. References, p. 45. — 18. Colonial policy of European states, p. 45. — 19. Spanish and Portuguese policy, p. 47. — 20. French policy, p. 48. — 21. Dutch and Swedish policy, p. 50. — 22. English policy, p. 51. — xvi Prelhniiiary. The South.

PAGES

23. Character of English emigrants, p. 53. — 24. Local government in the colonies, p. 55. — 25. Colonial governments, p. 58. — 26. Privileges of the colonists, p. 61 45*63

Chapter IV. The Colonization Of The South (1606-17oo)

27. References, p. 64. — 28. Reasons for final English colonization, p. 65. — 29. The charter of 1606, p. 66.

— 30. The settlement of Virginia (1607-1624), p. 69.

— 31. Virginia during the English revolution (1624- 1660), p. 75. — 32. Development of Virginia {1660- 1700), p. 78. — 33. Settlement of Maryland (1632- 1635), p. 81. — 34. Maryland during the English revolution (1642-1660), p. 84. — 35. Development of Maryland (1660-1715), p. 86. — 36. Early settlers in the Carolinas (i 542-1665), p. 87. — 37. Proprietorship of the Carolinas (1663-1671), p. 89. -»- 38. The two settlements of Carolina (1671-1700),

Chapter V. Social And Economic Conditions In The South In 1700

39. References, p. 96. — 40. Land and People in the South, p. 96. — 41. Slavery and servants, p. 98. — 42. Middle and upper classes, p. 100. — 43. Occupations, p. 102. — 44. Navigation Acts, p. 104, — 45. Social life, p. 106. — 46. Political life, and conclusions, p. 109 96-1 1 1

CHAPTER VL

THE COLONIZATION OF NEV^ ENGLAND (162O-1643).

47. References, p. 112. — 48. The New England colonists, p. 113. — 49. Plymouth colonized (1620-1621), p. 116

Contents, xvii

PAGES

— 50. Development of Plymouth (i62i-i69i),p. 120.

— 51, Massachusetts founded (1630), p. 124. — 52. Government of Massachusetts (1630-1634), p. 127.

— 53. Internal dissensions in Massachusetts (1634- 1637), p. 129. — 54. Religious troubles in Massachusetts (1636-1638), p. 132. — 55. Indian wars (1635- 1637), p. 136. — 56. Laws and characteristics of Massachusetts (i 637-1 643), p. 137. — 57. Connecticut founded (1633-1639), p. 140. — 58. The Connecticut government (1639-1643), p. 142. — 59. New Haven founded (1637-1644), p. 144. — 60. Rhode Island founded (1636-1654), p. 146. — 61. Maine founded (1622-1658), p. 150. — 62. New Hampshire founded (1620-1685), p. 152 112-153

Chapter VII. New England From 1643 ^o I7oo

63. References, p. 154. — 64. New England confederation formed (1637-1643), p. 154. — 65. Workings of the confederation (1643-1660), p. 157. — 66. Disturbances in Rhode Island (i 641 -1647), p. 159. — 67. Policy of the confederation (1646-1660), p. 161. — 68. Repression of the Quakers (1656-1660), p. 165.

Chapter VIII. Social And Economic Conditions In New England In 1700

74. References, p. 178. — 75. Land and people, p. 179. — 76. Social classes and professions, p. 181. — 77. Occupations, p. 184. — 78. Social conditions, p. 186. — xviii New England, Middle Colofties,

PAGES

79. Moral and religious conditions, p. 188. — 80. The witchcraft delusion, p. 190. —81. Political conditions, p. 192 178-194

CHAPTER YX.

THE COLONIZATION OF THE MIDDLE COLONIES (1609-I7OO).

Chapter X. Social And Economic Conditions In The Middle Colonies In 1700

90. References, p. 218. — 91. Geographical conditions in the middle colonies, p. 218. — 92. People of the middle colonies, p. 220. — 93. Social classes, p. 222.

— 96. Intellectual and moral conditions, p. 229. —

97. Political conditions, and conclusion, p. 231 . 218-232

Chapter XI. Other English North American Colonies (1605-i750)

Contents. xix

Chapter XII. Pages The Colonization Of New France (160s-1750)

References, p. 245. — 108. Settlement of Canada (1608-1629), p. 246, — log. Exploration of the Northwest (1629-1699), p. 247. — no. Social and political conditions, p. 249. — iii. Intercolonial wars (1628-1697), p. 252. — 112. Frontier wars (1702-1748), p. 254. — 113. Territorial claims, p. 255. — 114. Effect of French colonization, p. 257 . 245-257

Chapter XIII. The Colonization Of Georgia (1732-1755)

References, p. 258. — 116. Settlement of Georgia (1732-1735), p. 258. — 117. Slow development of Georgia (1735-1755), p. 261 258-263

Chapter XIV. The Continental Colonies From I7oo To I75o

References, p. 264. — 119. Population (1700-1750), p 265 — 120. Attacks on the charters (1701-1749), p. 266. — 121. Settlement and boundaries (1700- 1750). P' 267. — 122. Schemes of colonial union (1690-1754), p. 269. — 123. Quarrels with royal governors (1700-1750), p. 271. — 124. Governors of southern colonies, p. 272. — 125. Governors of middle colonies, p. 273. — 126. Governors of New England colonies, p. 275.— 127. Effect of the French wars (1700-1750), p. 277 128. Economic conditions, p. 278. — 129. Political and social conditions (1700-17 50), p. 280. — 130. Results of the half-century (i 700-1750), p. 282 264-284

XX List of Maps,

LIST OF MAPS.

I. Physical Features of the United States . . . Frontispiece.

1. North America, 1650 Endofvohime.

3. English Colonies in North America, 1700 . End of volume.

4. North America, 1750 End of volume.

EPOCHS OF AMERICAN HISTORY.

THE COLONIES.

1492-1750.

Chapter I. The Land And The Native Kaces

Bibliographies. — L. Farrand, Basis of American History, ch. xviii.; J. Larned, Literature of American History, 21-50; J. Winsor, Narrative and Critical History, I., II.; Channing and Hart, Guide, §§21, 77-80; C. Lummis, Reading List on Indians.

Historical Maps. — No. i, this volume {Epoch Maps, No. i); T. MacCoun, Historical Geography of United States; school histories of Channing, Elson, Gordy, James and Sanford, Mace, McLaughlin, McMaster, and Montgomery.

General Accounts. — Historical significance of geography of the United States: H. Mill, International Geography, ch. xxxix.; F. Ratzel, Vereinigte Staaten, I. ch. ii.; B. Hinsdale, How to Study and Teach History, ch. xiv. ; E. Bogart, Economic History of United States, introduction; E. Semple, American History and its Geographic Conditions; A. Brigham, Geographic Influences in American History; W. Scaife, America: its Geographical History. — Topographical descriptions of the country: J. Whitney, United States, I. pt. i.; N. Shaler, United States, I., and Nature and Man in America; Mill, as above; E. Reclus, North America, III.; Hinsdale, as above, ch. xv. — Prehistoric Man in America* L. Morgan, Ancient Society; J. Nadaillac, Prehistoric America; J. Foster, Prehistoric Races; Winsor, as above, I. ch. vi.; E. Avery, United States and its People, I. chs. i., ii.; Farrand, as above, ch. v. — The Indians (or Amerinds): D. Brinton, American Race; C. Thomas, Indians in Historic Times; F. Hodge,

2 La7id and Aborigi?ies, [Ch. I.

Handbook of American Indians; Farrand, as above, chs. vi.- xviii,; Avery, as above, I. ch. xxii.; F. Dellenbaugh, North Americans of Yesterday; S. Drake, Aboriginal Races of America; G. Ellis, Red Man and White' Man in North America; G. Grinnell. Story of the Indian. The introduction to F. Parkman, Jesuits in North America, and his Conspiracy of Pontiac, I. ch. i., are admirable general surveys. Briefer, also excellent, is J. Fiske's Discovery of America, I. ch. i. The mound-builders have now been identified as Indians. L. Carr, Mounds of the Mississippi Valley Historically Considered is the best exposition of this subject. C. Thomas, Catalogue of Prehistoric Works East of the Rocky Mountains is useful.

Special Histories. — Lamed, History for Ready Reference, I. 83-1 15,' gives brief account and bibhographies of tribes; Farrand, as above, 2 79-2 86, does the same by geographical groups. Especially notable are L. Morgan, League of the Iroquois, and C. Golden, Five Indian Nations. For detailed treatment of the aborigines of that section, consult H. Bancroft, Native Races of the Pacific Coast, II., and Mexico, I.; J. Palfrey, New England, I. chs. i., ii., describes the Indians in that region; T. Roosevelt, Winning of the West, I. chs. iii., iv., the Southern tribes; and Parkman, Pontiac, the 6ld Northwest tribes. There are numerous biographies of chiefs, and a considerable literature on border warfare.

2. Physical Characteristics of North America,

Whence came the native races of America? Doubtless the chain of Aleutian islands served as stepping-stones for straggling bands of Asiatics to cross over Origin of the i^^o Continental Alaska many centuries ago ; nauve races, others may have traversed the ice-bridge of Bering's Strait ; possibly prehistoric vessels from China, Japan, or the Malay peninsula were blown upon our shores by westerly hurricanes, or drifted hither upon the ocean currents of the Pacific. There are striking similarities between the flora on each shore of the North Pacific ; and the Eskimos of North America, like the

Ch. 1.3 The Pacific Slope. 3

West-Slope Indians of South America, have been thought to exhibit physical resemblances to the Monter of conjee- gols and Malays. On the other hand, some '"''^' archaeologists hold that men as far advanced as

the present Eskimos followed the retreating ice-cap of the last glacial epoch. In the absence of positive historical evidence, the origin of the native peoples of America is a mere matter of conjecture.

North America could not, in a primitive stage of the mechanic arts, have been developed by colonization on Difficulties any considerable scale from the west, except lion°from^' ^^ t^^ ^^^^ ^^ difficulties almost Insuperable, the west. The Pacific coast of the country is dangerous to approach ; steep precipices frequently come down to the shore, and the land everywhere rises rapidly from the sea, until not far inland the broad and mighty wall of the Cordilleran mountain system extends from north to south. That formidable barrier was not scaled by civilized men until modern times, when European settlement had already reached the Mississippi from the east, and science had stepped in to assist the explorers. At San Diego and San Francisco are the only natural harbors, although Puget Sound can be entered from the extreme north, and skilful improvements have in our day made a good harbor at the mouth of Columbia River. The rivers of the Pacific Slope for the most part come noisily tumbling down to the sea over great chffs and through deep chasms, and cannot be utilized for progress far into the interior.

The Atlantic seaboard, upon the other hand, is broad The Atlantic and inviting. The Appalachian range lies for thfnatul-al the most part nearly a hundred miles inland, approach to jj^g gently sloping coast abounds in inden-

North Am- r •, ^ i i j

erica. tations, — safe harbors and generous land-

locked bays, into which flow numerous rivers of con.

4 Land and Aborigines, [Ch. L

siderable breadth and depth, by means of which the land can be explored for long distances from tide-water. By ascending the St. Lawrence and the chain of the Great Lakes, the interior of the continent is readily The river reached. Dragging his craft over any one of system. a half-dozen easy portages in Wisconsin, Illi-

nois, Indiana, or Ohio, the canoe traveller can emerge into the Mississippi basin, by means of whose far-stretching waters he is enabled to explore the heart of the New World, from the Alleghanies to the Rockies, from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. A carrying trail, at the headwaters of the Missouri, will lead him over to tributaries of the Columbia, whereby he gains access to the Pacific slope ; while by another portage of a few miles in length, from Pigeon River to Rainy River, he is given command of the vast basin of Hudson Bay, — a labyrinth of waterways extending northward to the Arctic Ocean, and connected by still other portages with the Pacific. The Hudson River and Lakes George and Champlain form a natural highv^^ay from the St. Lawrence southward to the ocean. By the Mohawk and a short carrying-place, the Hudson was from early times connected with the Great Lakes. The Potomac, the Susquehanna, the Roanoke, and other Southern rivers can be traced northwestward to their sources in the mountains ; and hard by are the headwaters of west- The A a- Aowing feeders of the Mississippi. The Appalachian val- lachian mountains run for the most part in ey system, parallel ridges northeast and southwest; and their valley system, opening out through the Cumberland Gap upon the Kentucky prairies and the valleys of the Ohio basin, also affords a comparatively easy highway from the Atlantic sea-coast to the interior.

Thus with the entrance of North America facing the east, and with Europe lying but little more than one half

Ch. I.} TJie Atlantic Slope. 5

the distance from Boston that Asia lies from San Francisco, it was in the order of things that from the east should have come the people who were to settle and civilize the New World. Colonists could on this side of the continent found new commonwealths, yet at the same An inviting time easily maintain their connection with the Ar^an°colo- fatherland. The march of Aryan emigration nization. has ever been on lines little divergins: from due east or west. It is fortunate that the geographical conditions of North America were such as to make her an inviting field for the further migration of the race.

The Atlantic border may be considered as the threshold of the continent. It was among its dense, gloomy forests of hard wood and pine that European nations planted their colonies ; here those colonies grew into States, which were the nucleus of the American Union. The Appalachians are not high enough seriously to affect the climate or landscape of the region. Their flanks slope gradually down to the sea, furrowed by rivers which from the first gave character to the colonies. In ^ . . New England, where there is an abundance of

Geographi- fc> '

caicharac- good harbors, the coast is narrow and the NewE^ng- Streams are short and rapid, with stretches of }and ; navigable water between the waterfalls which

turn the wheels of industry for a busy, ingenious, and thrifty people. The long, broad rivers of the South, and of the Aowing lazily through a wide base-plain, the South. coast of which furnishes but httle safe an-

chorage, served as avenues of traffic for the large, isolated colonial estates strung along their banks ; the Three grand ^utocratic planters taking pleasure in having natural di- ports of entry at their doors. The Hudson Atlantic ^ and the Potomac lead far inland, — paths to slope. ^^g water ways of the interior, — and divide

the Atlantic slope into three grand natural divisions, the

6 Land ajid Aborigines. [Ch. I.

New England, the Middle, and the Southern, in which grew up distinct groups of colonies, having quite a different origin, and for a time but few interests in common. The Appalachian mountains and their foot-hills Extractive abound in many places in iron and coal ; works industries, foj- t^g smelting of the former were erected near Jamestown, Virginia, as early as 1620, and early in the eighteenth century the industry began to be of considerable importance in parts of New England, New York, and New Jersey; but the mining of anthracite coal was not commenced until 1820. The soil of the Atlantic border varies greatly, being much less fertile in the North than in the South ; but nearly everywhere it yields good returns for a proper expenditure of labor. The climate is subject ""^ ^' to frequent and extreme changes. At about 30° latitude the mean temperature is similar to that on the opposite side of the Atlantic ; but farther north the American climate, owing to the divergence of the Gulf Stream and the influence of the great continent to the west, is much colder than at corresponding points in Europe. The rainfall along the coast is everywhere sufficient.

Beyond the Appalachian mountain wall, the once heavily forested land dips gently to the Mississippi; The Missis- ^^en the land rises again, in a long, treeless sippi basin, gwell, up to the foot of the giant and picturesque Cordilleras. The isothermal lines in this great central basin are nearly identical with those of the Atlantic coast. The soil east of the 105th meridian west from Greenwich is generally rich, sometimes extremely fertile; and it is now agreed that nearly all the vast arid plains to the west of that meridian, formerly set The Pacific down as desert, needs only irrigation to blossiope. gQj^ ^g ^jT^g rose. The Pacific slope, narrow

and abrupt, abounds in fertile, pent-up valleys, with some

Ch. I.] An Aryan Stronghold. 7

of the finest scenery on the continent and a climate everywhere nearly equal at the same elevation; the isothermal lines here run north and south, the lofty mountain range materially influencing both climate and vegetation.

There is no fairer land for the building of a great nation. The region occupied by the United States is particularly available for such a purpose, ummary. j^ offers a wide range of diversity in climate and products, yet is traversed by noble rivers which intimately connect the North with the South, and have been made to bind the East with the West. It possesses in the Mississippi basin vast plains unsurpassed for health, fertility, and the capacity to support an enormous population, yet easily defended ; for the great outlying mountain ranges, while readily penetrated by bands of adventurous pioneers, and though climbed by railway trains, might easily be made serious obstacles to invading armies. The natural resources of North America are apparently exhaustless; we command nearly every North American seaport on both oceans, and withal are so isolated that there appears to be no necessity for "entangling alliances " with transatlantic powers. The United States seems permitted by Nature to work out her own destiny unhampered by foreign influence, secure in her position, rich in capabilities. Her land is doubtless destined to become the greatest stronghold of the Aryan race.

3. The Native Races.

When Europeans first set foot upon the shores of America it was found not only that a New World had Theabori- t)een discovered, but that it was peopled by gines. a j-^ce of men theretofore unknown to civ-

ilized experience. The various branches of the race differed greatly from each other in general appearance

8 Land and Aborigines, [Ch. I.

and in degrees of civilization, and to some extent were settled in latitudinal strata; thus the reports concerning them made by early navigators who touched at different points along the coast, led to much confusion in European estimates of the aborig^ines. We into two now know tnat but one race occupied the divisions. j^j^^ fj.Qj^ Hudson Bay to Patagonia. Leaving out of account the Carib race of the West Indies, the portion resident in North and Central America may be roughly grouped into two grand divisions : —

I. The semi-civilized peoples represented by the sunworshipping Mexicans and Peruvians, who had attained Mexicans, particular efficiency in architecture, roadp? blJTs"^' rnaking, and fortification, acquired some knowlciifiF-Dweil- edge of astronomy, were facile if not elegant Indians of in sculpturc, practlscd many handicrafts, but M?si?ssr i appear to have exhibited little capacity for valley. further progress. Their government was pa-

ternal to a degree nowhere else observed, and the people, exercising neither political power nor individual judgment in the conduct of many of the common affairs of life, were helpless when deprived of their native rulers by the Spanish conquerors, Cortez and Pizarro. Closely upon the border of this division, both geographically and in point of mental status, were the Pueblos and Cliff-Dwellers of New Mexico, Arizona, and Southern California, — the occupants of the country around the head-waters of the Rio Grande and Gila rivers, and of the foot-hills of the Desert Range. These people, like the Mexicans, lived in great communal dwellings of stone or sun-dried brick, and were also sunworshippers. They made crude cloth and pottery, and irrigated and cultivated large tracts of arid land, but were inferior as fighters, and occupied a mental plane considerably below the Mexicans. Allied in race and