A story of the world and its people for our little juniors

Preface

Children, what is the use of this history? What does it teach us ?

History teaches how to live. It shows us to what nation we belong ; it shows how that nation's life began, how it has grown, and what its present conditions are. History teaches that the character of a nation grows out of the character of the people who compose it, so that each person's life has an influence for good or for evil in his country. This is especially true in America, for here a man's birthright to take part in " the government of the people, for the people, by the people " carries with it a duty which each is bound to fulfill — the duty of right living.

History teaches us to keep our minds in order ; to know facts and circumstances before we attempt to judge the acts of people. It teaches us to study the principles of our national life and to be guided by them, as loyal children, at home, in the street, the school, the factory, the workshop, in business, and in social life.

In the past, the greatness of America has come through the ability of her people to make laws for themselves, and through their having had the intelligence to obey those laws. In the present, we still depend upon this same thing ; intelligence and obedience to law. Without this power of self-government the nation would fall into ruins, and not all her land, nor her wealth, nor her millions of people could save her.

\ What we do to-day will be history to-morrow. May a knowledge of the greatness and honor of the past, revealed by our country's history, serve as a light in the present to guide us, by the grace of God, in the way of national progress./

The Publishers.

Introduction

TO THE PARENTS

In its outward form, history is " the record of past events "; but, in its real character and use, history is the study of hfe.

In hfe, the child's starting point is himself. He looks out into the world and asks. What is this? Where did it come from? What are these people doing ?

These questions show the desire of the child's mind. They show that he is searching for the origin, the character, and the use of things, as he sees them.

The child's questions are clear and simple. They should have clear and simple answers — that is, in reply to his first inquiries, the child should be shown, first of all, the few great principles that underlie and make the framework of life.

As we look into the world, the actions of man are many. They appear on the outside, and make the diversity of life. But the principles of human being and growth are few and simple, and these should be given as first lessons, because they explain what is being done.

The child's interests and impulses are social. The people he sees are his own people. They are his family, his school, his town. He wishes to be with them all — to live and to work with them.

In response to this desire, all the child's study should be social in its purpose. His books should be an explanation of what is going on. Their intention should be to help the child to discover, that is to recognize, his own place in the world. To help this recognition is the especial use of history.

Froebel, the founder of the kindergarten, says : "In all things rests, works and rules, an eternal law." This is the law of growth. By it we are born, and by it we live and work.

This law "rests," or abides, in each thing, because it is born alike in the plant, and in man. It " works," because all things, vi A STORY OF THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE

in nature and in life, are born to express themselves, and to show the power that is in them ; and finally, this law of growth "rules," because a plan, or design, is born within everything. Under the control of this law, things and men grow after their " kind."

In history men have grown to be nations.

The nations are the great powers of the earth. Each has its land, its government, its religion, its relations with other people, its language, its literature and art ; each has its own character, apart from all others, and each, in closing its career, has left its influence and memory to the world.

The nation is thus the first figure in history to be presented to the child. He recognizes his relationship. His own nation is the greatest whole to which, personally, he belongs. It is the whole, within which are found the other parts of his life. Its story includes the story of all its families and of all single individuals. Apart from the nation these are imperfect ; but in their place, as parts of the whole, we see their full character, and the reason for their actions, bad or good.

Biography is pleasing, but, before the child's feelings and opinions are excited and enlisted on behalf of heroes and their personal work, he should have a clear idea of his country's existence, and of its boundary, origin, character and growth.

The child studies by comparison. As soon as he has recognized his own nation, he should be introduced to other great nations of the earth, both living and dead. This is to give him the idea of the unity and continuity of human life, with balance of mind, and a sense of relationship and proportion. It is to teach him how to think truly as to time, place, people and power, and to save him from egotism and false pride as he reads of his own country.

All this is for a practical purpose. The child's rights are born with him. His duties follow. The study of history is to make us intelligent as to all these things. It is to fit us for citizenship and the enjoyment of life.

In education children should be helped to be what they are born to be. The child needs to know where he is in the world, and who he is. He needs to see what is expected of him.

INTRODUCTION vii

and what he may expect of himself. In history, therefore, if we give him the ways and laws by which life moves and has moved on, he gets a real knowledge that will be useful all through his life. He gets a training for his thoughts ; he begins to look upon what he sees with some understanding, and above all, he is helped to begin to understand and to control himself.

We live in an age of change, but every child begins at the beginning. To him all is new, and to the teacher, or parent, who seeks to set him on his way, nothing gives so much help as to see that the primary principles of life are the natural, prunary lessons for a child.

TO THE CHILDREN

In this book you will begin to read the history of nations. First, you will study the life of your own nation — the United States of America. Then you will read a little about some of the other and older nations of the earth, and then, again, you will come back to yourself, at home, and the story of your own country's life.

It is said, sometimes, that children do not care for these things ; but whatever we love we like to know very well. We all love our country. We love the life that we are living in it now, and we all wish to know as much about it as we can.

When you come to what you do not understand, or to what you think dull and dry, read it through carefully; then go on. Do not try to know any book of history by once reading, or by studying a page at a time. History needs to be read a great many times over before we see all that it says; and one part helps another. Read the book as a whole ; then go back and read its parts slowly, over and over, and soon you will remember how, and when, and where things happened.

No one book of history tells you all things. In this, you ^Yi\\ find some ideas and some facts. In other books you will find what is not told here.

viii A STORY OF THE WORLD AND ITS PEOPLE

If, as you read, you will look carefully for every place that is mentioned, you will be studying geography, and you will also be able to understand, and to remember, the history of man, as he has lived upon the earth.

As you read and study, you will see that, in our life here, in our own land, we now have a great deal to do with other people. For this reason every one needs to know where all great countries are, where the cities are, where seaports are, where rivers run and how the oceans lie. In this study there are two things to rememl)er. First, that the earth was given, by the power of God, to be the home of man, and that it is so made that man can use and enjoy it ; and next that men have sailed and traveled about and have chosen the best places and all the best parts of the earth in which to live and work.

When we think of all these things we find, that, to study the maps helps us to understand many things, both here at home and abroad among other people.

M. H. P.

Part I Chapter Page

I. The Study of History . 17

II. The Land on Which We Live 21

III. The People and Their Occupations 25

IV. The Life of the People 29

V. The Union 35

YI. The Town and Its Government ....... 39

V^II. The Country 43

VIII. The City 45

IX. The State 47

X. The United States 51

XL The President 55

XII. The Flag and Seal of the United States 59

I. The War with Spain 259