G. P. QUACKENBOS, LL. D., AUTHOR OF "FIRST LESSONS IN COMPOSITION," "ADVANCED COURSE OF COMPOSITION NEW YORK: D. APPLETON AND COMPANY, 1, 3, AND 5 BOND STREET. 1887. HARVARD BY THE SAME AUTHOR. Illustrated School History of the United States: A Comprehensive Treatise, containing a full Account of the Aborigines, Biographical Notices of Distinguished Men, numerous Maps, Plans of Battle-fields, and Pictorial Illustrations. 12mo, 550 pages. Elementary History of the United States: Made easy and interesting for beginners. With numerous Illustrations and Maps. 16mo, 216 pages. Illustrated Lessons in Our Language; or, How to Speak and Write Correctly. Designed to teach children English Grammar without its Technicalities. 16mo. 180 pages. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1877, by In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. PREFACE. THE calls that have been made on the Author for a text-book on the history of our country, intermediate in size between his larger and his Elementary History of the United States, have led to the preparation of the present volume. It is an entirely new work, freshly compiled,-different from, and independent of, the manuals just mentioned; and it is hoped that it may meet the wants of teachers who desire a course brief while it is complete, and interesting while it is condensed. Accuracy and impartiality in stating facts have been the author's special aim. He has earnestly labored to avoid the use of fragmentary paragraphs, devoid of logical connection; to clothe the narrative in an attractive style; to accompany it with abundant maps and illustrations that will throw light upon the text; to adapt it to the improved modern methods of teaching; and to awaken in the student a taste for historical reading. In the belief that the history of a country is something besides a mere record of its battles, revolutions, and conquests, it has been attempted to give an idea of the state of society at different times, and to show the improvements in domestic life, as well as the more important inventions and discoveries, that indicate the progress and intellectual growth of the people. In the different systems of topical reviews-analytical, geographical, chronological, and biographical-appended to the several chapters, and in the presentation of a bird's-eye view of contemporaneous events at certain periods, it is believed a feature will be found that will meet with general approval. While many teachers pursue methods of their own deduced from experience, it may be well for those who have no better system to follow the suggestions thrown out in connection with these reviews for their practical use. NEW YORK, June 28, 1877. In the figured pronunciation, sound a like a in fate; ǎ like a in India; ĕ and eh like e in met; ŏw like ow in cow; ü like the French u; gh like g in go; ng like the French nasal n. CONTENTS. II. Discoveries of Columbus, . III. Mound-Builders.-Indians.-Esquimaux, IV. Early Discoveries of Different Nations, V. Early English Voyages.-Settlement of Virgini VI. Dutch Settlements.-New France, VII. First Settlements in New England, VIII. Settlement of Connecticut, Maryland, and Delaware, . XVII. The Eve of the Revolution, XVIII. Beginning of the Revolution, XIX. Revolutionary War: Events of 1776, XX. Revolutionary War: Events of 1777, 1 The Fifteenth Century (extending from 1400 to 1500 A. D.) was an era of great changes in Europe. It put an end to the darkness of the Middle Ages. It witnessed the revival of learning and science, and the birth of many useful arts, among which not the least was Printing. The invention of the Mariner's Compass in the preceding century having enabled sailors to go out of sight of land, a thirst for exploring unknown seas was awakened. Long voyages were undertaken, and important discoveries made. It was in this age of mental activity and growing knowledge that AMERICA WAS DISCOVERED. America is often called the New World; not that it is younger than the other continents, but because at the time of its discovery in 1492 it was unknown, or new, to Europeans. It is also called the Western Continent, to distinguish it from the Eastern, which embraces Europe, Asia, and Africa, and the South-eastern, or Australia. Position of the Western Continent.-The map on the next page shows how these continents lie. The Western is separated from the Eastern, on one side by the Atlantic Ocean, varying in width from 800 to 3,600 miles; and on the other, by the Pacific. The Pacific, from its greatest width of 10,000 miles nar |