Brief History of the United States | Page 2

avoiding all sectional or partisan views.
12. To give the new States the attention due to their importance by devoting space to each one as it is admitted into the Union, and becomes a feature in the grand national development.
13. To lead to a more independent use of the book, and the adoption of the topical mode of recitation and study, as far as possible, by placing the questions at the close of the work, rather than at the bottom of each page.
14. To furnish, under the title of Historical Recreations, a set of review questions which may serve to awaken an interest in the class and induce a more comprehensive study of the book.
Finally--this work is offered to American youth in the confident belief that as they study the wonderful history of their native land, they will learn to prize their birthright more highly, and treasure it more carefully. Their patriotism must be kindled when they come to see how slowly, yet how gloriously, this tree of liberty has grown, what storms have wrenched its boughs, what sweat of toil and blood has moistened its roots, what eager eyes have watched every out-springing bud, what brave hearts have defended it, loving it even unto death. A heritage thus sanctified by the heroism and devotion of the fathers can but elicit the choicest care and tenderest love of the sons.
[Illustration: MOUNT VERNON]

TABLE OF CONTENTS.
* * * * *
INTRODUCTION,
FIRST EPOCH.
EARLY DISCOVERIES AND SETTLEMENTS,
SECOND EPOCH.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE COLONIES,
THIRD EPOCH.
THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR,
FOURTH EPOCH.
DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATES,
FIFTH EPOCH.
THE CIVIL WAR,
SIXTH EPOCH.
RECONSTRUCTION AND PASSING EVENTS,
* * * * *
APPENDIX.
QUESTIONS FOR CLASS USE,
HISTORICAL RECREATIONS,
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE,
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES,
TABLES,
INDEX,
A SUGGESTION TO TEACHERS
[Entered according to Act of Congress, A. D. 1872, by A. S. Barnes & Co., in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.]
* * * * *
The following method of using this work has been successfully employed by many teachers. At the commencement of the study let each pupil be required to draw an outline map of North America, at least 18 x 24 inches in size. This should contain only physical features, viz., coast-line, mountains, lakes, and rivers. If desired, they may be marked very faintly at first, and shaded and darkened when discovered in the progress of the history. As the pupils advance in the text let them mark on their maps, day by day, the places discovered, the settlements, battles, political divisions, etc., with their dates. They will thus see the country growing afresh under their hand and eye, and the geography and the history will be indissolubly linked. At the close of the term their maps will show what they have done, and each name, with its date, will recall the history which clusters around it.
Recitations and examinations may be conducted by having a map drawn upon the blackboard with colored crayons, and requiring the class to fill in the names and dates, describing the historical facts as they proceed. In turn, during review, the pupil should be able, when a date or place is pointed out, to state the event associated with it.
It will be noticed that the book is written on an exact plan and method of arrangement. The topics of the epochs, chapters, sections and paragraphs form a perfect analysis; thus, in each Presidential Administration, the order of subjects is uniform, viz.: Domestic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, and Political Parties--the subsidiary topics being grouped under these heads. The teacher is therefore commended _to place on the board the analysis of each Epoch, and conduct the recitation from that without the use of the book in the class_.
[Illustration: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES]

INTRODUCTION.
WHO FIRST SETTLED AMERICA?--It was probably first peopled from Asia, the birth-place of man. In what way this happened, we do not know. Chinese vessels, coasting along the shore according to the custom of early voyagers, may have been driven by storms to cross the Pacific Ocean, while the crews were thankful to escape a watery grave by settling an unknown country or, parties wandering across Behring Strait in search of adventure, and finding on this side a pleasant land, may have resolved to make it their home.
AMERICAN ANTIQUITIES.--In various parts of the continent, remains are found of the people who settled the country in prehistoric times. Through the Mississippi valley, from the Lakes to the Gulf, extends a succession of defensive earthworks.
[Footnote: It is a singular fact that banks of earth grassed over are more enduring than any other work of man. The grassy mounds near Nineveh and Babylon have remained unchanged for centuries. Meantime massive buildings of stone have been erected, have served long generations, and have crumbled to ruin.]
Similar ruins are found in various other sections of the United States. The largest forest trees are often found growing upon them. The