Founders of freedom in America; a biographical history for the elementary grades

Preface

The authors of this history believe that another text on the subject is justified at this time only by the fact that some of the big ideals for which this country stands should receive greater emphasis than has been usual. These are now more clearly defined than formerly, making it desirable that a text designed as this is for the fifth and sixth grades shall be a helpful adjunct in teaching them. It should include, too, a treatment of the lives and achievements of some of the men and women who have influenced the great movements in our national life during recent years.

The development of the ideals of liberty and the giving of unselfish service for the good of mankind have been stressed throughout the book. In the preparation of the stories the fact that America has been not only a refuge for those who sought to escape persecution but a land of opportunity and of material and moral, as well as political, progress has been uppermost in the minds of the authors.

Five connecting chapters are included in the book for the purpose of preparing the pupils' minds for some of the important events of the different periods into which the history is divided. The aim is to establish a viewpoint and to give an interpretative basis for the subsequent narratives.

The biographical treatment, so appealing to children, is used because children in the fifth and sixth grades possess

IV PREFACE

a strong love of romance and adventure and of heroic deeds. American history affords ample material to satisfy the craving of the young mind. The deeds of daring mariners and pioneers and the action of courageous soldiers and statesmen and other leaders are as interesting in fact as are others in fiction. The stories are told, first, to kindle the admiration of children, and, second, to form the background for the development of the ideals which have made the United States a government under which civil and religious liberty are guaranteed, and under which they are enjoyed by a freedom-loving people.

The authors wish to call attention especially to the four projects included in the book. The dramatization of "Columbus' Voyage, Discovery, and Victorious Return," and the project '^ Impersonation by Children of Explorers and Pioneers" have been worked out by Miss Mabel L. Bennett, Helping Teacher, Union County, New Jersey. The projects, ''The Life of Daniel Boone," and ''How Clara Barton and the Red Cross have Shown us the Joy of Unselfish Service," have been written by Miss Vera M. Telfer, Helping Teacher, Warren County, New Jersey. The pageant immediately following Chapter XLVII, entitled "The Development of Liberty in America," has been worked out by the teachers and pupils of the Belmont Avenue School, Newark, N. J. The authors trust that teachers will consider the use of these and similar projects indispensable to the successful presentation and teaching of this textbook in elementary American history.

The authors wish to thank those who have read and criticized the manuscript. Many valuable suggestions have been received from these friends,

D. B. C.

H, R. C.

Table Of Contents

CHATPER PAGE

Special Table of Maps and Studies ix

Prehistoric America.

Chapter I The Prehistoric Peoples Of America

The United States is now a great nation of many people living on farms, in villages, and in large cities. They have made many inventions, such as the automobile, telegraph, telephone, electric light, and have made wonderful progress in manufacturing articles for their daily use, in architecture, iin the practical arts, and in education. Only a few hundred years ago a different race lived here under different conditions. The country was a vast wilderness unknown to the civilized peoples of Europe.

In the Mississippi Valley great mounds of earthworks are found — the work of a prehistoric people. Little is known of these people or of the Cliff Dwellers who built houses upon ledges and in the cliffs of the mountains of New Mexico. These and other Indians, as they were later named by Columbus, had instead of roads only paths through the forest. They made no bridges over the streams or rivers and no boats except the birch canoe.

The most civilized of the Indian tribes lived in Mexico and Peru and other parts of the American continent. Wonderful defensive works, aqueducts, paved roads, monuments, altars, idols, and temples are found there in ruins.

The Spanish seekers for gold conquered great cities in these countries.

The Indian of the land now known as the United States lived here for centuries but did nothing to improve himself or his people. His son followed the old customs, learning to hunt and to fight. His education was to catch fish with a spear, to shoot the arrow, to throw the tomahawk, and to learn the traditions of the tribe. The Indian man regarded

labor as fit only for women.

The Indian woman built the wigwam, cut the wood, scratched the ground with a stick or clam shell, planted the corn, cooked the food, made the clothing of dressed skins, and carried the burdens on a journey. She was not the equal of her husband, but an underling who ate what was left of her lord's feast and took the coldest place in the wigwam. The Indian man was lazy and shiftless. He was revengeful, but grateful for favors and was hospitable to his tribesmen or friends. He talked very little, was grave and even haughty in manner. He endured suffering without flinching. He was superstitious, and believed that spirits lived in beasts and reptiles and birds and rivers and lakes. He thought these spirits could harm him and he dreaded to offend any of them. He believed that at death his spirit w^ent to the Happy Hunting Grounds where he would find great joy. There was a

An Indian,

THE PREHISTORIC PEOPLES OF AMERICA 6

tradition among the North American Indians of an Indian of miraculous birth who was sent among them '' to clear their rivers, forests, and fishing grounds, and to teach them the arts of peace." Among the different tribes he was called by various names, the best known of which is Hiawatha.* Longfellow describes him thus:

" From his lodge went Hiawatha, Dressed for travel, armed for hunting; Dressed in deer-skin shirt and leggings, Richly wrought wiih quills and wampum; On his head his eagle-feathers, Round his waist his belt of wampum, In his hand his bow of ash- wood, Strung with sinews of the reindeer; In his quiver oaken arrows, Tipped with jasper, winged with feathers; With his mittens, MinjekahA\ain, With his moccasins enchanted."

Although cruel and treacherous in warfare, the Indians were also alert and brave. The coming of the white men to America caused a long struggle between them and the red men. The Indians were friendly to the early English settlers in Massachusetts and in Pennsylvania because the people of these settlements treated them, as you will learn, in a kind and just manner. Their relations with the Spaniards, the French, and the English are of great interest in American history.

The Indians are now living in reservations, chiefly in the western part of the United States. At the burial of the unknown soldier of the World War in Arlington Cemetery on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, Plenty Coups, an

See Schoolcraft's " Algic Researches," Vol. 1, p. 134, and "History, Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States." Part HI, p. 314.

Indian chief, laid his feathered war bonnet and coup stick reverently on the bier as a tribute of the Indians of America to those of their race who fought with the Americans in that great struggle. In doing this he said, " I feel it an honor to the red man that he takes part in this great event because it shows that the thousands of Indians who fought in the great war are appreciated by the white man. ... I hope that the Great Spirit will grant that these noble warriors have not given up their lives in vain and that there will be peace to all men hereafter. . . . This is the Indian's hope and prayer."

THINGS TO DO

I. Discuss what is meant by prehistoric.

II. Borrow from the library descriptions of the CHff Dwellers and the Mound Builders of the United States to use in class.

III. Borrow from the librarj^ descriptions of the ancient people of

Mexico and Peru for use in class.

IV. Bring to school some Indian pictures for class study. V. Read in class a few selections from Hiawatha.

VI. What is an Indian Reservation? Locate some of them. VII. Name some large cities of the United States. VIII. Make a list of inventions that you know have made life in America easy and convenient.

Chapter II The Norsemen And Leif Ericson

The Norsemen in America. — In early times there lived in the northern countries of Europe a strong, hardy race of people, called Northmen, Norsemen, or Vikings, who loved adventure and gloried in battle. Many of these people were sailors who scoured the seas in small boats made of oak timbers fastened together with iron bolts and withes made from the roots of trees. Some of their boats were ornamented at the prow with the head of a dragon, w hile the stern was built to resemble a dragon's tail. Besides the sails, these boats carried many oars. The largest vessels were very small compared wdth ocean-going boats of to-day.

With these small, clumsy vessels, however, the Vikings made themselves feared on the sea. They would appear suddenly off the coast of France or England and would plunder and then burn what they did not want. They forced the French king to give them land in the northern part of his kingdom. Some of the Northmen settled there, and it has since been called Normandy. They also conquered and settled a part of England.

Some of the Vikings were driven to the shores of Iceland by a great storm. After a time they found their way back to their homes. Word of the new country spread abroad, and soon several boatloads of Northmen went to Iceland and remained there.

Such a long journey as that from Norway to Iceland was not easy to make in those days. The compass had not come into use. The sailors knew in which direction they were sailing only when they could see the stars or the sun. In times of storm they had to trust to good luck to keep them on the right course. There were no maps to aid sailors. Little of the world was known, as you will find when you read the next chapter.

Ships of the Viking;s.

In vessels like these the !ii:ive Xdisenieii iiuide many long voyages.

From Iceland, one l:)old Norseman, Eric the Red, sailed in search of other lands. It was in the short Arctic summer, and he discovered in the northern seas a beautiful grasscovered country which he called Greenland. The Vikings were used to cold countries, and it was not long before many of them settled along the shores of Greenland, cold and desolate at any season except the summer.

In the year 1000 Leif Ericson, the son of Eric the Red, also set out on a voyage of discovery. After a long sail he

THE NORSEMEN AND LEIF ERICSON reached a land that seemed strange to the Northmen because, mstead of the ice and snow and dreary weather that they were accustomed to, they saw green trees, tall grass, and beautiful flowers. They went ashore and found grapes hanging in great clusters on vines growing in the woods. For that reason they called the country Vinland, meaning Vineland.

Discoveries of the Vikings about 1000 a.d.

On this map may he tracod the route followed by Leif Erifson.

Leif Ericson sailed back to Greenland after a short stay in Vinland, and after his father's death became chief of the Greenland colony. Because of his many adventures and his good fortune, he was called Leif the Lucky.

During the next few years the Northmen made several attempts to plant colonies in Vinland. One man and his followers, after staying there three years, became discouraged because of the unfriendly natives and sailed back to his home in Greenland. We now know these natives by the name of Indians, but the Norsemen called them Skraellings,

The land that Leif Ericson discovered was North America. We are not sure where he and his companions landed, but it is thought that it was somewhere along what is now called Massachusetts Bay. Although there was no result of any value from Leif Ericson's journeys, he was the first white man known to have reached North America. We may well remember him for that reason. It was nearly five hundred years before a voyage to the new world was again made by sailors from Europe. From that date, 1492, we shall take up the study of the history of our country.

I. Why do you think the Norsemen loved the sea? II. Give as many reasons as you can why the Norsemen could not

sail far from land.

III. Why were the discoveries of Leif Ericson not important in our history?

PERIOD OF DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION, 1492—1607, 115 YEARS

Chapter III The New World; A Land Of Freedom

While studying this book try to put yourself in the place of each man or woman about whom you are reading. If you do this you will be better able to understand why Columbus made his voyages, why John Smith helped in setthng the new country, and why other leaders did the work that helped in tune to make our country " the land of the free and the home of the brave."

Try, too, as you read, to see how the work of one man made it possible for others to do what they did. It should be easy to see why explorers sailed to America after Columbus returned with the great news that a new land lay in the ocean far to the west of Europe. After the explorers came the settlers, seeking freedom in religion and government, which they did not have in the old world.

Through pictures and through stories about the life and deeds of leaders in American history you can get very well acquainted with them. You may be able to picture them as they went about their daily tasks, and if you think carefully you will discover reasons for what they did in discovery and exploration, and later in the development of our country.

Columbus and the other great explorers of America lived about four centuries ago. That may seem a long time to you, but it is not long as we measure the life of man and his work on the earth. Some men Hve to be nearly one hundred years old. The lives of four such men would about equal the length of time that has passed since our country was first found by Columbus.

It took nearly two hundred years to explore the coast and the principal rivers that led inland in America. This seems a long time when we think that now a man may go from New York to London in about six days, or in a much shorter time in an aeroplane. A conversation may even be carried on by wireless telephone between cities in America and cities in Europe. As you learn about early explorations, compare the past with the present as to means of travel and the sending of messages.

Through study of the work of men like Coliunbus others were enabled to learn more and more about America. Finally, the people of Europe came to know so much about the new world that many began to think that men and women might make homes there as good as or better than their European homes. This was, as you will learn, the beginning of the period of settlement.

Men may be tied down by customs in government, in religion, and in other matters. As you study the lives of the early leaders, note their efforts to free themselves from various forms of bondage. Find out, too, the meaning of opportunity and then explain, as you study the different stories, why America has been a " Land of Opportunity " for so many people.

Chapter IV Christopher Columbus And His Explorations And Discoveries

We must understand something about conditions in Europe during the last half of the fifteenth century before we begin the study of what Christopher Columbus did, and why he did it. If you should read a history of Europe of this period, you would find that many of the cities of southern Europe, especially Genoa, Italy, had built up a very prosperous trade with India and other sections of the East, as it was known then. This commerce was carried on mostly by way of the Black and Caspian Seas. You will see from the map that this route led by Constantinople.

Trade prospered until the Turks captured Constantinople in 1453. They were not friendly to the people of Europe. As soon as they had possession of Constantinople they shut off all trade by way of the Black Sea and by other routes. This was a very serious matter to those cities that depended largely on their Eastern trade. What were they to do?

You, who have seen maps and globes showing the world as it really is, could easily answer this question. You can find many ways of getting to India besides going through the Black Sea or overland through western Asia. But it was a very difficult matter to settle at that time because it was not known that the world is round. No one had sailed far out on the ocean. The maps of that time showed only a small part of Europe, a little of Asia, and northern Africa,

n

Many stories were told of the terrible monsters that lived in the ocean, and pictures of some of these imaginary animals were placed on the maps. One of these pictures is shown on the next page. If you examine it, you will know

why the sailors were afraid to venture far out to sea.

Most men thought the world was flat, and surrounded by an ocean. A few believed the world to be round, as we know it to be, but they thought it was much smaller than it really is. Their writings and the maps they made show us that even these wise men thought there was but one ocean between Western Eu- Christopher Columbus." rope and Asia. They

His great discovery opened a new world for exploration had UCVer thoUght and settlements. r i.u 1 i i • u

01 the land winch is our home. The Norsemen did not know what they had discovered, five hunched years before this tmie, nor did the other peoples of Europe know of their explorations.

Columbus believed as these few learned men did. He was born in Genoa, and when only a boy he showed a strong desire for a seaman's life. He entered the University of

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS EXPLORATIONS

Pavia at the age of ten. At that school he learned a great deal about navigation. After leaving the University he spent some time sailing the Mediterranean Sea. Later he sailed on Portuguese vessels along the coast of Western Europe as far north as Iceland, and southward along the west coast of Africa.

Ancient Trade Routes

About this time sailors began to use the compass. It was a great aid to navigators because the direction could always be known, no matter how dark or foggy the weather. The sailors of this period had, therefore, a great advantage over the Norsemen or Vikings.

Born by the sea, educated for the sea, always a student of navigation, and with many years of experience, it is no wonder that Columbus wished to find a new route for trading mth India. Not only was he anxious to do this, but he beUeved he knew how to do it.

He beheved, with many of the learned men of Italy, that by sailing west he could reach the lands in the East. In order to accomplish this great undertaking, however, Columbus was obliged to seek aid from someone who had money to fit out vessels and to pay sailors to man them.

He first placed his plans before men in Italy, but they gave him no encouragement. He then went to King John

This map shows how Columbus (not knowing that America lay in the way) hoped to reach Asia and the East Indies by sailing west.

of Portugal, who called learned men together to hear Columbus explain his ideas of the shape of the world, and how one could reach the East by sailing west. They were so far from being convinced, however, that they ridiculed him and asked if he thought people on the other side of the world could walk about with their heads hanging down.

After his failure in Portugal, Columbus went to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Seven years passed before he could persuade the King and Queen to give him ships to cross the ocean. At last he convinced Queen Isabella that he was right, and she promised to pledge her

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS EXPLORATIONS jewels, if necessary, to help fit out ships for the great voyage.

It was very difficult to find men to sail the ships. They believed that they would be lost if they sailed too far to the West. It was necessary for the King to order some sailors

The Caravels of Columbus.

to go on the ships. Convicts were released from prison to complete the crews.

Finally all was in readiness, and on August 3, 1492, Columbus left the port of Palos with three vessels, the Pinta, the Nina., and the Santa Maria. The Santa Maria, Columbus' flag-ship, was the largest. It was about ninety feet long and twenty feet wide. In the picture of these vessels you may see that they were open, with small decks. The sailors had very Uttle protection in stormy weather. It is not surprising that men were afraid to go on such a voyage as Columbus planned, into an unknown sea, with vessels which were so small that we wonder now how they withstood the waves.

The first stop was at the Canary Islands, where it was necessary to stay three weeks to repair one of the ships. On September 6th, a fresh start was made, and from then for over a month the little vessels sailed steadily westward. Great tracts of seaweed were met. The sailors were afraid they would be caught in these weeds and would have to remain there and die. As the wind blew always towards the west they were frightened, because it seemed to them that they would never be able to return. They were also afraid of the great monsters that they had always heard about.

After weeks had passed without signs of land, the discontent became so great that some of the men threatened to mutiny. Columbus, hopeful even in these trying days, urged them on by his strong will and words of encouragement. Finally, the air became bahiiy and floating sticks and bushes in the water showed them that land must be near. Queen Isabella had offered a prize to the man who first sighted land, and Columbus had promised to give him a velvet coat. After such a long voyage with its unrest and fear, and with the hope now of winning the Queen's prize, all were eager to see land. At last, one evening a sailor shouted " Land! " He had seen a light, — a torch carried by someone on the shore. On the following morning Columbus and some of the members of the crews of each vessel landed. An impressive ceremony followed. Unfurling a banner they took possession of the country in the name of Spain. The land, which proved to be an island, they called San Salvador.

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS EXPLORATIONS

America was discovered October 12, 1492. The voyage had taken 49 days of actual saiUng. This seems very long when we think of the trip made by two airmen in the sunmier of 1919, when the voyage across the Atlantic took but 16 hours.

Where is the Island of San Salvador? Columbus thought it was north of Japan. We can see how far from correct his map was when we consider that San Salvador is more than

Columbus' Landing.

Followed by his men, dressed in their finest uniforms, Columbus landed and took possession of the land in the name of the King and Queen of Spain.

8000 miles from Japan. He saw no signs of golden-roofed palaces, inhabited by people dressed in beautiful silks such as he had read were to be found in Japan. He found only a savage race of people who lived in homes like tents and went about almost naked. They had never seen boats with sails before, and were frightened by Columbus' ships, which they thought were great birds.

Within a short time the little fleet left San Salvador and cruised about searching for Japan and its wonders. During this voyage Columbus discovered Cuba and Haiti. As he thought all these lands were a part of India, he called the group of islands the West Indies and the natives of the islands Indians.

On Christmas morning the Santa Maria was wrecked on a sand bank off the coast of Haiti. As the Pinta had already deserted, Columbus was left with but one vessel. With the timbers of the wrecked Santa Maria he built a fort near the coast, leaving forty men there with guns and provisions. He then sailed for home where he arrived on March 12, 1493.

A great welcome awaited the man who had been given up for lost. As he had been away seven months, few thought that he would ever return. Columbus, who had been ridiculed and laughed at, was now greeted as a hero. The King and Queen showered honors upon him at their court. They gave him the title of " Don," and, rejoicing in his success, were never weary of hearing about the strange people and things which he had found in the new land.

It was not as difficult to get men for a second voyage undertaken by Columbus as it had been for the first one. In September, 1493, a fleet of seventeen vessels carrying fifteen hundred men set forth. As before, they sailed westward, expecting to join the little group left by Columbus at San Salvador. To their grief, however, they found only the ruins of the fort when they reached there, and no trace of the men. They cruised about, discovered Jamaica, landed on the islands of Haiti and Porto Rico, and established the colony of Hispaniola, or " Little Spain," on Haiti. They spent nearly three years in searching here and there for the treasures that they felt sure were to be found in the new land, but they returned empty-handed to Spain.

There was then no such welcome as when Columbus

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS AND HIS EXPLORATIONS returned the first time. The Spanish people expected gold and lost faith in Columbus when he was not successful in finding it. He was thought to be a fraud.

Queen Isabella still had faith in him, however, and encouraged him to make another trial. In 1498 he set forth on his third voyage. On this trip he discovered the mainland of South America, and sailed along the northern coast, always in search of the great treasures of India and China. He cruised about among the West Indies and visited the colony of Hispaniola. There Columbus found discontent among the colonists. The Governor falsely accused him, put him in chains, and sent him back to Spain. The Queen, however, was very indignant at his treatment and released him.

By this time Columbus was old and discouraged because he had not found a short route to India, nor the treasures of the eastern world. But Queen Isabella still believed in him, and, in 1502, sent him out on a fourth voyage. This time he met with even greater misfortunes than before. One of his vessels was wrecked. He and his men nearly starved.

He returned to Spain broken in health, to find his good friend.

Queen Isabella, dead. The king paid no attention to him. He was ignored by those to whom his discoveries later brought great wealth and distinction.

He gave a new world to Spain, but died, in 1506, believing he had reached the Indies.

Americus Vespucius.

America was so named because of this man's book about the new land.

Columbus' efforts made Spain one of the wealthiest and most important countries of Europe. Building up a great trade with the colonies that he planted in the new world, she soon found the longed-for land of gold in South America and Mexico.

As all Europe profited by the discoveries of Columbus, you might well suppose that the new country would have been called by his name, but he did not get even that honor. Another man, named Americus Vespucius, a Florentine navigator, made a voyage to the new world in 1501, and upon his return to Europe wrote an account of his travels. People soon afterwards began to call the new country America, after the author of this book.

I. How do we know the world is round? II. Why did Columbus need to be a good sailor?

III. What would you have thought if you had been living in Colum-

bus' time and had heard his plans?

IV. ^Vliy was it liard for him to obtain money for his voyage? V. Did Columbus do what he wished to do? Explain.

VI. ^Yhat do you mean by exi:)lorations? VII. Wliy was Columbus honored at first and then ill treated? VIII. Do you think Columbus was a great man? Why?