Stories of American history

Front matter

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Preface

In writing this hook, no attempt has been made to deal especially with the causal aspects of history. They belong to a later phase of the learner's growth. The earlier stage, for which this book is designed, obtains its ideas of the past most naturally from the pictorial side; that is, from those external features of events which can best be presented through pictures, descriptions, and illustrative stories put together in chronological sequence.

The aim of the author has been to select those interesting and colorful facts identified more or less closely with the lives of strong and masterful men who were the leaders of great movements and the centres of important situations ; and then, with the teacher's co-operation, to interpret the material thus selected in such a way as to appeal to the imagination, and through the imagination to the heart and will of the child. Thus will he be helped to reconstruct the past — to people it with vigorous flesh-and-blood men and women, thinking, feeling, willing, and acting very much like the men and women about him. He will, so far as his imagination allows, stand by the side of great leaders, feeling the impulse of their ideals and aspirations, sharing in their achievements, and learning from their successes and failures something of use in his own life.

"Stories of American History" follows somewhat closely the course of study prepared by the Committee of Eight, covering the topics outlined for Grades IV and V. It was the plan of that committee to take up in these grades, largely in a biographical way, a great part of the essential facts of American history; and with this plan I, as a member of that committee, was in hearty accord. This method,

vii viii PREFACE

it is believed, serves a double purpose. In the first place, it is the best possible way of laying the foundation for the later and more detailed study of United States history in the higher grammar grades by those pupils who are to continue in school; and in the second, it gives to that large number of pupils who will leave school before the end of the sixth grade — which is at least half of all the boys and girls in the schools of the country — some acquaintance with the leading men and prominent events of American history.

It is without doubt a great mistake to allow half of the pupils to go out from our public schools with almost no knowledge of the moral and material forces which have made this nation what it is to-day. It is an injustice to the young people themselves; it is also an injury to their country, the vigor of whose life will depend much upon their intelligent and patriotic support.

It is confidently hoped that the fine illustrations and the attractive typographical features of the book will help to bring vividly before the mind of the child the events narrated in the text.

Another aid in making the stories vivid will, it is intended, be found in "Some Things to Think About." These and many similar questions, which the teacher can easily frame to 'fit the needs of her class, will help the pupil to make real the life of days gone by as well as to connect it with the present time and with his own life.

In conclusion, I wish to acknowledge my deep obligations to Mr. Forrest Morgan, of the Watkinson Library, Hartford, and to Miss Elizabeth P. Peck, of the Hartford Public High School, both of whom have read the manuscript and have made many valuable criticisms and suggestions.

Wilbur F. Gordy.

Hartford, Conn., August 20, 1917.

Contents

CHAPTER PAGE

I. Christopher Columbus 1

II. John Cabot and Americus Vespucius 15

Chapter I Christopher Columbus

Over 800 years ago, long before it was known there was such a place as A-mer'i-ca, a war broke out between the peoples of western Eu'rope and those of western A'sia.

The peoples of western Europe were followers of Christ, while those of western Asia were followers of Ma-hom'et. The Ma-hom'et-ans held the Holy Land where Christ had lived, and the Christians wished to get it back.

This war was followed by others. For nearly 200 years they never wholly died down, but the hard fighting was at eight different times. The wars were called the Cru-sades', or Wars of the Cross, because the Christian soldiers wore crosses on their coats.

Millions of men lost their lives in this dreadful struggle, but many lived to go back to their homes in Europe. They told wonderful tales of the strange lands where they had fought, and of the curious and beautiful things they had seen there. They told of beasts and birds, fruits and flowers, peoples, dress, houses, furniture, and customs that seemed very strange.

How do you suppose this made the people feel who had stayed at home? Of course, they also wanted to visit these lands, and many who had never been far from home began to travel to Asia.

They had known nothing of the great world outside of the little place where they had grown up. Imagine how surprised they were to find that the people of the East understood many arts of which they themselves knew nothing.

They found soft, fine silks and other rich cloths to wear, spices which made their food taste better, rugs to warm and soften the floors, and many of the comforts of life.

Wishing to take some of these things back home, they traded for them things they themselves had made. This business of trading kept growing, as time went on. In Ven'ice and Gen'o-a there were merchants and sailors who took a large part in it. Look at your maps and see if you can tell why boys growing up in those cities should take to the sea.

From these two cities great merchant fleets sailed out, and returned loaded with goods from the East. These goods had to be brought on the backs of camels, horses, and mules, all the way from Per'sia, In'di-a, and Chi'na, down to the ports where the ships were waiting for them. Picture to yourself long lines of these beasts of burden as they wound along their way to the sea-coast.

At one time there were three main routes by which the caravans reached the sea. All were costly and full of danger, for it was the custom of the Turks to plunder the caravans or to force them to give up a part of their goods before they would let them go on.

The most northern route led through the Black Sea by way of what is now southern Russia. But in 1453 the Turks captured Con-stan-ti-no'ple and cut off this route. This was a hard blow to Genoa, for that city had always used the northern route.

But it was a blow felt by all Europe, for other nations had become eager for a share in the Eastern trade. It happened, too, just when the desire for Eastern goods was growing veiy fast.

For a long time men had been trying to find a way to reach India, China, and Japan by water, so as to escape the dangers by land. Now they felt that such a route must be found.

Por'tu-gal and Spain were the two nations whose sailors went most to sea. So they took the lead in the search for this all-water route.

Portugal set out to find it by sailing down the west coast of Africa. It was very slow work, but at last a brave sea

Christopher Columbus.

captain of that country, Vas'co da Gam 'a, reached the

most southern end of Africa.

He called it the "Cape of Storms." You can guess wiry.

But the King of Portugal said, " It shall be called the Cape

of Good Hope." Can you think why he gave it that name?

When Portugal had found her route by sailing south, Spain dared not sail over it herself for fear of trouble with Portugal.

So she had to find another way.

The man who showed her how was Chris'to-pher Colum'bus. He was not a Spaniard. Let us see how it came about that Spain was the

count ly to send him out and get the glory for what he did. Columbus was born in Genoa. His father was a poor man,

who earned his living by making wool ready for the spinners. We do not know much about the boy Christopher, but

we can well believe that he was fond of playing on the

He was fond of playing on the wharves.

wharves near his home. Here he could see hundreds of vessels coming and going. We may be sure that he spent many hours watching their white sails. Most likely he was fond of the water and learned while he was quite young to swim and to sail boats.

But he did not play all the time. He had work to do like other boys. He learned his father's trade, and he also went to school, where he learned reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, and map-drawing. All these were of great use in his later life.

He must have heard older people talk a great deal about the loss of the Eastern trade after the Turks had shut up the Black Sea route, and about the need of finding a new route over the ocean.

YEARS OF TRIAL FOR COLUMBUS

Many years later, when he had become a grown-up man, he went to live in Lis'bon, which, you know, is the capital of Portugal. Here lived one of his brothers, and here, as in Genoa, lived many sailors. Here again he mast have heard much talk about finding a water route to India.

Columbus listened earnestly to sailors' stories; he studied maps and charts; he thought a great deal.

It seemed to him that the earth must be round like a globe, instead of flat as many others supposed. He tried to get all the proofs he could of this. He also took many voyages himself.

After many long years of study, he felt sure that he could get to India by sailing straight across the Atlantic Ocean. He would go right in the opposite direction from that in which India lay. "The way to the East is by the West," said he.

If he should be able to reach India in this way, he would prove that the earth was round and would bring the wealth of the Indies to Europe.

The more he thought about this great plan, the more he longed to carry it out. In fact, he thought of it by day and dreamed of it by night.

But he was poor and he had few friends. How could he get money and help to make his great dream come true?

At last he laid his plan before King John of Portugal. But the king would not promise to help him.

Columbus then took his little son Diego (de-a'go) by the hand and started across the mountains to Spain. We may picture father and son hurrying along the rough mountain roads. Columbus could hardly stop to see whether his little boy was tired, so eager was he to find some one to help him.

When he came to a place near the town of Pa'los, he left Diego with an aunt, and set out alone in search of the king and queen, Fer'di-nand and Is'a-bel-la.

At that time a war was going on in the south of Spain between the Spaniards and the Moors. So Columbus had a hard time getting them to listen to him.

At last they gave him a hearing. They had asked a number of wise men to be present. Some of them laughed at Columbus for saying that the earth was round like a globe. Others said, "We believe he is right."

But the king and queen would not help him. Sick at heart, therefore, he planned to leave Spain and go to France.

Up to this time he had failed. He was poor and had few friends. Men said, "He is a crazy dreamer." When he walked through a village with sad face and threadbare clothing, the boys laughed at him.

But Columbus did not give up hope. He had faith in his plans, and believed that sometime he should succeed. He started bravely, therefore, for the court of France, taking Diego with him.

At that time, we are told, Columbus was a fine-looking man. He was tall and strong, and had a noble face with keen blue eyes. His white hair fell in long wavy locks about his shoulders. Although his clothing was plain and perhaps shabby, there was something in his manner that made people like him.

After father and son had walked about a mile and a half, they stopped at the Convent of St. Mary. Perhaps they wanted some bread and water. Just then the good Pri'or of the Convent was passing by and the two men began to talk together.

Columbus reasoned well about his plans. The Prior listened closety, and then wrote at once to Queen Isabella, who knew him and believed in him as a wise and good man. This letter proved a help to Columbus, for a little later the queen told him she would furnish him with men and vessels for the voyage.

Santa Maria Pinta Nina

The Fleet of Christopher Columbus.

But even with the queen's help, he still had many trials before him. The ocean was unknown. The sailors were afraid to go out far from land upon the deep, dark waters.

In the course of time, however, three small vessels with one hundred and twenty men were ready to start. The vessels were not larger than many of our fishing-boats to-day. The largest was the San'ta Ma-ri'a and was commanded by Columbus. It was about ninety feet long, and was the only vessel of the fleet which had a complete deck.

A half hour before sunrise on Friday morning, August 3 ; 1492, the little fleet sailed out of the port of Palos. It was a sorrowful time for the poor sailors and their friends. All believed that the vessels would be lost, and that the sailors would never again see home and family.

When, about a month later, they left the Canary Islands and the furthest land known to them faded from sight, the sailors cried like children.

Fresh worries lay before them. At the end of a week the compass needle no longer pointed to the North Star. Of course, the poor sailors were in great fear.

A few days later the fleet entered a vast stretch of seaweed. Again the sailors were much troubled. They feared that the vessels would stick fast in the grass, or run upon rocks lying just below the surface of the water. But when the wind blew up a little stronger, the vessels passed on in safety.

Later on they entered the belt of trade-winds, which blew them steadily westward. They said: "We are lost! We can never see our friends again!" They begged Columbus to turn about and steer for home.

He refused. They became angry, called him crazy, and even wished to kill him. One of them said: "Let us push him overboard some night when he is looking at the stars."

Columbus knew his life was in danger, but he would not give up. He still had faith and hope. The greater the danger, the more firmly he set himself to meet it with an iron will and a high purpose.

At last, on October 11, signs of land such as birds and broken bits of trees appeared. That night no one slept.

COLUMBUS

TIRST VOYAGE, 1492-S

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The First Voyage of Columbus, and Places of Interest in Connection with His Later Voyages.

Every one was straining his eyes to catch the first glimpse of the distant shore.

About ten o'clock in the evening Columbus himself saw a moving light in the distance. It looked like a torch in the hand of a man who was running along the shore.

COLUMBUS AND THE NEW WORLD

Early in the morning little boats were lowered, and everybody went ashore. Columbus, dressed in a rich robe of bright scarlet, carried in his hand the royal flag of Spain. As soon as he reached the land, he fell on his knees. With tears in his eyes he kissed the earth and thanked God for the safe voyage.

Columbus called the dark-skinned natives Indians, because he thought he was in the East Indies. At first the Indians ran into the woods because they were afraid, but soon they came back, curious to learn about these strange visitors.

They worshipped the white men, thinking they were beings from the sky. They believed the vessels were great birds, and that the sails were great white wings.

Columbus called the island upon which he had landed San Salvador, which means Holy Saviour.

Sailing on, he reached the coast of Cuba.

Now he thought he was in Japan, and called the island Ci-pan'go (Japan); and he kept on the lookout for the cities of Asia. In them he expected to find the gold, spices, and jewels he was looking for. But he found no cities; and he found no gold, no jewels, and no spices.

On Christmas morning he had a serious mishap. While it was still dark, one of his little vessels ran ashore on a sand-bar and was knocked to pieces by the waves. Another of his vessels had already deserted the fleet, so now he had but one left.

On January 4, 1493, he sailed for Spain. After a very stormy voyage, on March 15 he entered the harbor of Palos.

It was a joyful day for the people and they stopped all business to give a welcome to Columbus. His praise was now on every man's lips.

Soon he went to Bar-ce-lo'na, where he was honored by a street parade. King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella sent for him, and when he came into their presence they honored him by rising. As he knelt to kiss their hands, they commanded him to rise and sit with them as an equal.

The idle dreamer had become a great man. Everybody was eager to share his honor and his fame. It was now easy to get the most powerful men in the country to join him on a second voyage.

In September, 1493, he sailed with a fleet of seventeen vessels. This time he had with him 1,500 men, and many of them were from the best families in Spain. They meant to stay in the "Indies" long enough to become rich men, and go back to Spain to live as grandees. They expected to use gangs of the natives to dig gold for them.

On reaching Hayti Columbus built a little town, and then started to explore the new countiy. But trouble met him on every hand. The Indians were not always friendly, and his own men were often unwilling to obey him. They had not come to do hard, rough work, but to make fortunes at once.

At the end of three years, he sailed back to Spain. During a long and trying voyage all the food on board was used up, so that he and his men almost starved. But at last he reached home.

A few years later he sailed on a third voyage. More troubles were waiting for him. When he reached the little town which he had built in Hayti, he found things were going badly. The Indians were unfriendly, and serious quarrels had broken out among the settlers themselves.

For two long years Columbus tried to make things right, but he could not. At length an officer was sent from Spain to see how things were going in the colony.

He unjustly put Columbus in chains and sent him back to Spain.

Queen Isabella sent for him to come to court, and

he appeared before her still bound in chains. When she saw him she wept, and he also broke down and wept at her feet.

Having been set free, a few years later he went on a fourth voyage. Again he met trouble after trouble. First, his ship was wrecked, and then he spent a long, painful year of hardship and miseiy.

Columbus in Chains.

At last he sailed back to Spain, where he arrived only a short time before Queen Isabella died. He lived only eighteen months after this, for he was broken in health and felt that he had little to live for.

On May 20, 1506, he died of a broken heart. Up to the very last he thought he had sailed only to the Indies. He never knew that he had discovered a new world.

1. Why did Spain and Portugal wish to find an all -water route to

India, China, and Japan?

2. How did Columbus come to believe that he could reach the Far

East by sailing west across the Atlantic?

3. Imagine yourself with him on his first voyage and tell all you can

about his trials.

4. What land did he think he had reached? What was his great

work?

5. What do you admire in Columbus?

Chapter II John Cabot And Americus Vespucius John Cabot

At the time when Columbus sailed on his first voyage, another sea-captain, born in the very same city as Columbus, was planning to sail westward in search of the In'dies. This was John Cab'ot. He was born in Genoa, had his home later in Venice, but was now living in Bristol, England.

He had travelled much, and had spent some time in western Asia, where he had seen a caravan loaded with spices. After he returned to England, he asked King Henry ATI if he might go on a voyage of discovery, and the king gave his consent.

But it was not until May, 1497, nearly five years after Columbus had first sailed, that Cabot put out to sea with only one small vessel and eighteen men. He sailed straight west and landed on the coast of Lab'ra-dor.

He was the first sea-captain to reach the mainland of North America, for Columbus did not do this until his second voyage in 1498.

On Cabot's return to England he was called the " Great

Admiral." He was treated with much honor. The simple

sea-captain now dressed in fine clothing like the noted men

of those days.

The following year, with six vessels, he made another voyage. Where he went, what he found, whether he ever came back, we do not know. But it is rather likely that he

John Cabot in London.

went to what is now Flor'i-da. On the strength of what England declared that he had discovered, she at a later time claimed all of North America.

AMERICUS VESPUCIUS

From what you have learned, you will probably think that the New World should have been named after Columbus. The reason why it was not can be told in a few words.

After Columbus had led the way, many other explorers sailed for the West. Among them was A-mer'i-cus Vespu'cius.

How many voyages he made, and just when he made

JOHN CABOT AND AMERICUS VESPUCIUS them, we do not know. But it is thought that he sailed along the coast of Bra-zil', or perhaps along a part of the eastern coast of South America lying south of Brazil. He wrote letters also in which he told what he had seen in his voyaging, and what he said in these letters was the first printed account of the mainland of the New World.

The good accounts that Vespucius wrote of what he had seen were read by German geographers. They liked the accounts because they were so interesting. One of these geographers also supposed that Americus Vespucius was the first man to discover the New World. So the land that Columbus discovered came to be called America.

Americus "Vespucius.

1. Who was John Cabot? What was he the first man to do?

2. Why was the New World called America?