THE UNITED STATES

FROM THE EARLIEST DISCOVERY

OF AMERICA TO THE PRESENT DAY

BY

CHAPTER 1. RESULTS OF THE FRENCH AND

INDIAN WAR

19

How Important. —Vergennes's Prophecy.-England in Debt.-
Tempted to Tax Colonies.—Colonies Strengthened.—Military Ex-
perience Gained.—Leaders Trained.-Fighting Power Revealed.
—Best of All, Union.—How Developed.-Nothing but War could
have done This.-Scattered Condition of Population then. -
Difficulties of Communication.-Other Centrifugal Influences.-
France no longer a Menace to the Colonies.—But a Natural
Friend and Ally.-Increase of Territory at the Colonies' Disposal.

CHAPTER II. GEORGE III. AND HIS AMERICAN

COLONIES

30

Character of the Young King.–Policy.—Advisers.-Indefinite
Causes Separating Colonies from England. - England Blind to
These.—Ignorant of the Colonies.—Stricter Enforcement of Navi-
gation Laws.-Writs of Assistance.- James Otis.—Stamp Act.-
Opposition. — Vigorous and Widespread Retaliation by Non-
importation.—England Recedes.—Her Side of the Question.-
Lord Mansfield's Argument.-- Pitt's. —Constitutional and Histori-
cal Considerations not Sufficient.-George III.'s Case Better

M126831

Legally than Practically.—Natural Rights.—Townshend's Duties.
-Massachusetts's Opposition.-Samuel Adams.-Committees of
Correspondence.—The Billeting Act.—Boston Massacre.-State-
ment of Grievances. The Tea.—Coercion Resolved upon.-
First Continental Congress.—Drifting into War.

PAGE

CHAPTER III. INDEPENDENCE AND THE NEW
STATES

51
Slow Growth of Desire for Independence. Why. — Early
Schemes of Union.— New York Convention of 1690.—Albany
Convention of 1754.–Franklin's Plan for a Confederation of
Colonies.-Even in 1774 no Hint of Independence.—Hardly in
1775.-Swift Change at Last.-All the Colonies Turn to the New
Idea.—Causes.—Dickinson and Harrison.—The King's Barbar-
ity.—The Gaspé Affair.-Capture of Fort William and Mary,—
Paine's “ Common Sense.”—Declaration of Independence Mooted.
-Debated.-Drafted. Passed and Signed. — Jefferson. How
far he Followed Earlier Utterances.—Effect of the Declaration. -
Anarchy in the Colonies. — New State Governments. — New
Constitutions.—Their Provisions.—Changes from the Old Order.
-General Character of the Documents.

CHAPTER IV. OUTBREAK OF WAR: WASHING-
TON'S MOVEMENTS

68
General Gage in Boston.-Lexington.—Concord.—The Retreat.
-Siege of Boston.-Bunker Hill.—Warren's Fall. -Losses of
the two Sides.-Washington Commander-in-Chief.-His Char-
acter. - Difficulties. — Bad Military System. Gage Evacuates
Boston.—Moultrie's Defence of Charleston Harbor.— New York
the Centre of Hostilities.—Long Island Given up.—New York
City also.—Forts Washington and Lee Captured.-Retreat across
New Jersey.--Splendid Stroke at Trenton.—Princeton.-Brandy-
wine and Germantown.—The Winter at Valley Forge.-Hard-
ships.-Steuben's Arrival and Drill.–Battle of Monmouth.

CHAPTER V. THE NORTHERN CAMPAIGN

86
On to Canada.—Ethan Allen takes “Old Ti.”—Montgomery's
Advance.-Benedict Arnold's.— They attack Quebec.—Montgom-